Indonesian Natural Colors for Cloth Design Help Coastal Forests
2021-11-20
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1Batik is a traditional Indonesian coloring method used to make designs and drawings, usually on cloth and finished textiles.
2Batik makers use dyes -- colors added to cloth and other materials - to create the colorful designs.
3In central Indonesia, many batik makers are using natural dyes instead of manufactured ones.
4The natural dyes used come from mangrove forests that grow along the coast.
5The trees grow in salty water on a complex system of tall roots.
6Mangrove forests serve an important purpose.
7They provide a barrier against destructive ocean waves called tsunamis.
8They also are important to water life like fish and crabs.
9And the forests are more effective in capturing carbon dioxide gas, a gas linked to climate change, than rainforests or similar environments.
10Erwin Ardli is a mangrove ecologist at Indonesia's Jenderal Soedirman University.
11He says the natural dyes may not be as bright as manufactured ones.
12 But they are better for the environment.
13Ardli said, "We've seen the interest for natural dyes increasing, and especially for middle- to upper-class people, they seem proud to wear clothes using these natural dyes rather than synthetic ones."
14Iiting Budiarti, who owns an art gallery that shows Batik designs, agreed with Ardli.
15Budiarti added that objects with natural dyes can cost two or three times more than the synthetic ones.
16Forty-eight-year-old Sodikin is a batik maker.
17He uses only one name.
18Over the past four years, he and his group of batik makers have changed from using chemical materials for dyes to mangrove-based products.
19The change has reduced their costs and helped the environment.
20Harvesting involves gathering a handful of what looks like string beans -- seeds within a covering.
21Sodikin then takes the mangrove fruit home to make natural dye from them.
22"We use natural materials so as to preserve the mangrove forest at the same time," Sodikin said, as he processed dried fruits before boiling them to extract the color for use as a dye.
23"We do not cut down the trees," he added, "and we only take fruits or leaves that have fallen."
24I'm Mario Ritter Jr.
1Batik is a traditional Indonesian coloring method used to make designs and drawings, usually on cloth and finished textiles. Batik makers use dyes -- colors added to cloth and other materials - to create the colorful designs. 2In central Indonesia, many batik makers are using natural dyes instead of manufactured ones. The natural dyes used come from mangrove forests that grow along the coast. The trees grow in salty water on a complex system of tall roots. 3Mangrove forests serve an important purpose. They provide a barrier against destructive ocean waves called tsunamis. They also are important to water life like fish and crabs. And the forests are more effective in capturing carbon dioxide gas, a gas linked to climate change, than rainforests or similar environments. 4Erwin Ardli is a mangrove ecologist at Indonesia's Jenderal Soedirman University. He says the natural dyes may not be as bright as manufactured ones. But they are better for the environment. 5Ardli said, "We've seen the interest for natural dyes increasing, and especially for middle- to upper-class people, they seem proud to wear clothes using these natural dyes rather than synthetic ones." 6Iiting Budiarti, who owns an art gallery that shows Batik designs, agreed with Ardli. Budiarti added that objects with natural dyes can cost two or three times more than the synthetic ones. 7Forty-eight-year-old Sodikin is a batik maker. He uses only one name. Over the past four years, he and his group of batik makers have changed from using chemical materials for dyes to mangrove-based products. The change has reduced their costs and helped the environment. 8Harvesting involves gathering a handful of what looks like string beans -- seeds within a covering. Sodikin then takes the mangrove fruit home to make natural dye from them. 9"We use natural materials so as to preserve the mangrove forest at the same time," Sodikin said, as he processed dried fruits before boiling them to extract the color for use as a dye. 10"We do not cut down the trees," he added, "and we only take fruits or leaves that have fallen." 11I'm Mario Ritter Jr. 12Tommy Ardiansyah reported this story for Reuters. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 13_________________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15textile -n. cloth, fabric or similar materials; something made from cloth 16synthetic -adj. not natural, manufactured or made by people 17preserve -v. to keep in good condition as it was at first 18extract -v. to take a substance out of a more complex material using machines, chemicals or heat 19We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.