The name of Batik for Indonesian indigenous clothing might not be strange for everyone in the world. Since the Dutch colonization of Indonesia starting 17th century the name of batik has been spreaded in Europe as famous as the spice islands of India. The question of where and when was batik started to be made or when it was invented in terms of design and technique of making, many historians have researched it and the answer is Central Java or especially in the region of Yogyakarta and Solo today. The unique design, color, and weaving is one of the character that made batik is a product of it own and belong to a local genius.

Their traditional technique of producing batik is as unique as the batik itself, a piece of woven cloth or today a piece of fabric is drawn for the patterning. Traditional patterns are mostly taken from patterns made in ancient time such as found on the temple of Borobudur, Prambanan, Kalasan and others. This pattern is carefully laid out on a piece of cloth by pencil. Then this pattern is covered with wax. The tool to lay the wax is called " canting " looks like a kettle for boiling water, only its size is small. This canting is used to boil the wax and strike the wax on the pattern though its fountain, function like a traditional pen. After the patterns are all covered by wax then the whole piece is soaked to intended color for some time. After the color completely seeped into the fibre then the wax is melted by boiling water. So the areas covered by wax will remain as its original color. If another color is intended to be made on the cloth then the same process will be repeated as much as colors as intended. This is the general process of the making of Batik by traditional technique in Yogyakarta and Solo.

The Research Center of Batik is already established, located at Jl. Kusumanegara No. 2 in the eastern part of the city. This research center has a complete facilities of batik from the process of making, permanent exhibition of batik from classical period, and modern design. The institute offers an intensive course on making batik for 3 months running six days a week starting 09.00 to 12.00. For a serious student this package is more then enough to understand and mastering the process of making batik both traditional techniques, stamping, and printing.

Beside hand made batik mentioned above later development also batik made by stamping and printing. This type has more consistent pattern but less quality, as it is not resist again washing agent such as detergent and sun rays. Also the price of this type is far more cheaper compared to batik made by hand. Most of mass production of batik is produced by stamp of printing and sold at the cheap market only to show that the outlook of batik can be copied exactly with modern process and one who wish to make collection with cheap price then is available.

In the course of history, the pattern of batik also undergo the changes or simple can be said experiencing enrichement The arrival of the Dutch bearing the batik called batik Belanda, the coming of Japan in Indonesia resulting batik of Japan, and also the existence of Chinese in Indonesia creating batik of China. But the true batik is different in color and design. We know the batik that is specific to the palace of Yogyakarta as the symbol of the royal palace using specific colors such as indigo, dark, brown, deep blue and maroon. These colors are considered as the color of dignity. Mauve is considered suitable only for young unmarried girls. While modern batik with various influence above, using more mixed colors such as crimson, yellow, and green mixed with blue, yellow and black.

As batik is one aspect of Yogyakarta's arts that make Yogyakarta known world wide, today batik is known world wide as a unique ethnic crafts and art and is popular for various fashionable materials. Batik cloths are on display at many galleries in Yogyakarta City and the surrounding. It's quality and designs are unique and having a great deal of pattern, which is probably to much or profusely made, but local likes it very much. By the continuing life of Batik art means the preservation of Javanese culture, especially Javanese clothing art. Danar Hadi Batik Collection, is one of the most complete gallery with Batik even from the oldest trace of crafts. Preservation, development on Batik art is continuing not only for local need, but has been introduced to many countries and nations. One can visit the workshop of Danar Hadi to see the whole process of painting, and pattering the cloth. Everyone will beadmired by the fact that Java has a very special product for souvenir to their guests. A typical Batik Galleries in Yogyakarta, staffed with hospitable and full etiquette of Javanese women, with slow speaking tone, and and learnt body movement during receiving guests. This is a specific attitude of Javanese women performance due to their cultural background, which is much in contrast to those Batak of North Sumatran women. Batik Clothing, after being finished in a form of Batik pieces, is not just as it is, but a material for various ladies or men's fashion. From short sleeved, long sleeved, and even for pans, short and skirts, and various fashion arts. This type of daily wearing can be found among semi-informal meeting, receptions, wedding, and many other occasions within the family or wider group gathering. In Yogyakarta, or Central Java in wider sense, various traditional dances will use batik as the main dress and accessories for the dancer and the general effects of the theatre. In Yogyakarta and Surakarta the formal attire of the Sultan and his dignitaries is batik, both for head dress, shirts, and down the waist wares. Based on the techniques of making, batik can be grouped into three types. One is the production by hand painting which quality is believed as the best. Bali is known for batik making by ikat-technique, when the threads as the basic former patterns are tied together to give coloring and discoloring parts when it is died. Those parts of threads that are tied will not get color, while those being not tied will get color. To get various color the tying will be done repeatedly until preferred number and type of color are all with the thread. This technique is widely used both in Yogyakarta, Surakarata and Bali. This type of daily wearing can be found among semi-informal meeting, receptions, wedding, and many other occasions within the family or wider group gathering. In Yogyakarta, or Central Java in wider sense, various traditional dances will use batik as the main dress and accessories for the dancer and the general effects of the theatre. In Yogyakarta and Surakarta the formal attire of the Sultan and his dignitaries is batik, both for head dress, shirts, and down the waist wares.