The Story Behind Our Material: The ‘Lurik’ Fabric

Our fabric, Lurik, is derived from the Javanese word ‘lorek’, which means stripes.

Unlike Batik, people from outside Indonesia do not know much about Lurik. Lurik is

originated from Middle Java. The motifs are always a combination of stripes or checks. In

the past, the rural Javanese men wore Lurik as their traditional cloth. Lurik was made from rough woven cotton. Because of its cheap and affordable fabric, they often wore it as their casual look. Even until this time, the fabric is still used in various Javanese ceremonies, such as Tujuh Bulanan (the 7 th month of first pregnancy) and Labuhan ceremonies.

Each design of Lurik has their own meaning. For example, a scattered striped pattern called ‘Gerimis’, symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Another striped motif called ‘Tuluh Watu’, the glittering or shining stones, has the meaning of protection from the evil or bad luck.

Lurik also symbolizes handwork and hardwork. The traditional hand weaving process itself entails endless patience, dedication and skill. The weavers use equipment commonly known as ATBM or non-machine weaving tools. First there’s the painstaking dying and sizing of the yarns, making sure each thread of all colours in the weaving achieves exactly the right hue. Next the dyed yarns are spun to untangle and twist them. The weavers then set up over 2,700 individual threads on a peddle-loom to achieve the desired motif. Once all this has been accomplished the weaving begins.

Knowing this beautiful story behind Lurik makes us wonder what if this precious

Indonesian traditional culture is facing danger in terms of existence. Therefore, here, at

ALTER, we want to bring back the culture and preserve it for generations to come through our products. You can help too. Reach out to our social media and we will tell you how.

#alteredbyALTER #SecarikLurik

Written by : Monica Elvira