Bandung's Friday Batik Market

Balubur Town Square shopping center, colloquially known as Baltos, on Jl. Taman Sari, Kebon Bibit, Bandung, is well-known among college students as the place to go to for stationary as well as arts and crafts supplies.

But the mall is now trying to attract more visitors by trialing interesting programs such as the Friday Batik Market, which began on May 31.

Baltos general manager Della Martono said that through the program they hoped to establish a batik center in downtown Bandung.

“We welcome businesses interested in becoming tenants as well as designers and batik enthusiasts to join our Friday Batik Market,” she said, adding that the mall will also hold a batik-making workshop for visitors during the market in August.

The market is still relatively calm and a trip there makes for a relaxing visit. The market is filled with a wide array of batik products from all over Indonesia, including household goods, stylish batik clothing, batik bags and purses.

The prices are also affordable; for example, two pieces of Cirebon batik fabrics only cost Rp 35,000 (US$3.53).

The market is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the shopping mall's D2 floor.