Bengkulu Besurek Batik Can Survive The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic Because Of These Factors

Besurek Batik Craftsmen. (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The "storm" of the COVID-19 pandemic does not seem to have an impact on the besurek batik typical of Bengkulu Province. Evidently, batik which has a combination of calligraphy and Rafflesia flowers still exists in the community.

Several factors make this besurek batik still sought after in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides being more accepted among teenagers, this batik has its own selling points.

One of the besurek batik craftsmen in Bengkulu City, Doni Roesmandani, said that he still has many orders even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Because besurek batik has its own selling value or is different from other types of batik sold by craftsmen or other business actors," said Doni, as quoted from Antara, Saturday 16 April.

Doni admitted, producing batik besurek still uses the traditional method, namely by means of written batik. This method has a high level of difficulty and more exclusive colors.

Therefore, the price of besurek batik that is sold is higher than the price of printed or screen printed batik. For the price of his besurek batik, he sells it starting from Rp. 200 thousand to Rp. 2.5 million per cloth, depending on the level of difficulty of production. Doni continued, his batik besurek products have been sold to various areas outside Bengkulu Province such as Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, even abroad such as Malaysia, Singapore and even Turkey. Even though it is still a COVID-19 pandemic, the income generated from selling batik besurek is not too influential, even the sales turnover since the pandemic has reached tens of millions.