The techniques, symbolism, and culture associated with woven garments called Indonesian Batik permeate Indonesian culture from start to finish: infants wear batik slings designed with symbols for good luck, and the dead are encased in funerary batik.
According to G. P. Rouffaer, the technique might have been introduced in India or Sri Lanka during the 6th or 7th centuries. He found that the gringsing pattern originated in Java around the 12th century, and concluded that only the canting, an etching tool containing a reservoir of hot wax, could create this delicate pattern.
The 13th century carvings depicted on East Javanese Prajnaparamita statues' clothes show intricate floral patterns surrounded by rounded margins. This type of pattern represents the lotus in Hindu-Buddhist beliefs and is similar to today's traditional Javanese batik motif, ceplok. This evidence suggests intricate batik fabric patterns applied with the canting existed in 13th-century Java or even earlier.
Ambatik is a Javanese word that means "wide" or "large" with the nitik or tik meaning "dot" or "make a dot". Bathikan is another word that means "drawing" or "writing" in Javanese. In the beginning, Indonesian batik made use of the "written batik" (batik Tulis) techniques. These are known in Indonesia as the original batik. The process and workmanship remained traditional and manual until a stamping technique was discovered (batik cap) which made the production of batik faster.
The garments are often the focal point in rituals, such as the ceremonial casting of royal batik into a volcano. Batik is intertwined with the cultural identity of Indonesians and, through its symbolic colors and patterns, creativity and spirituality is expressed. The craft is often passed down within families through generations and intertwined with Indonesian identity.
The contemporary practice of batik now allows people to choose patterns that are suitable for a variety of situations, be they casual, formal, or semi-formal. Batik makers have made many modifications to well-known patterns or invented new designs. Besides that, batik has become a daily dress whether it’s worn at work, school, or formal or semi-formal events in Indonesia.
Many young designers have taken batik as their inspiration for creating clothes. These young designers have been creative in their designs of batik clothes that are elegant and match the demands of today's lifestyle. As a tribute to this ancient tradition, Indonesians wear batik today.