North Maluku Batik: The Malefo

Stated by UNESCO as the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity owned by Indonesia, Batik is also a proud of North Maluku. Batik Malefo, which we find so many decorating various fashions here, started producing and selling in 2010.

Based on the production, batik Malefo has two methods which are stamping and painting. They use cotton as the material.

Batik Malefo is one of local heroes of north Ternate, where it firstly produces. The designs of Malefo inspired by north Maluku natural resources such as nutmeg, clove, and Bidadari bird. The motives are designed in 2 and 3 dimensions and colors following the trend to give a high art value.

During HWAN visit to North Maluku for a project collaborated with Dinas Koperasi dan UKM Maluku Utara, we choose Batik Malefo to be explored and then inspire HWAN next collection.

We visit the workshop and met the owner there. They encourage youth around the village to work together creating designs of Malefo. As you can see in the picture, the boy takes over the production process of stamping method. He handles all the processes assisted by one or two other boys. While the girls are tended to be more detailed in designing the Batik, that’s why they take over the painting method.

The workshop is a small house and backyard, completed with 4 sewing machines, and some batik stamps with various motives. But the creation they deliver are worth the local champion.

This article is dedicated to batik Malefo and Dinas Koperasi dan UKM Maluku Utara as appreciation to let the world know more about North Maluku wonder. Photography is owned by Malefo and Dinas Koperasi dan UKM Maluku Utara.