Strengthening Cultural Identity, UWP Makes Jombang Batik a Tourism Icon Using Technology
Efforts to promote Jombang's distinctive batik as a tourist attraction and a driving force for the creative economy continue to receive support from academics. In 2025, a team of lecturers from Wijaya Putra University (UWP) visited Jatipelem Village, Diwek District, to provide mentoring to Kusmiasih's Hadi Siswo Hand-Written Batik MSME.
Through the Community Service Program (PKM) for Capacity Building and Branding of Jombangan Batik Products, the UWP team introduced a new innovation to address a classic problem faced by artisans: the manual color fixation process.
This program was implemented by a team of lecturers led by Dr. Woro Utari, S.E., M.M., and assisted by members Prof. Dr. Nugroho Mardi Wibowo, S.E., M.Si. and Siswadi, S.T., M.Si.
The team leader, Dr. Woro Utari, S.E., M.M., explained that manual processing results in very long production times and colors tend to fade quickly.
"It takes almost an hour to produce two pieces of batik cloth. As a result, production capacity is low and color quality is unstable," she said.
As a solution, the team introduced a Fixation Machine, an appropriate technology capable of increasing production capacity tenfold—from just two to 20 pieces of cloth per hour. Not only does it speed up the process, but the resulting batik colors are also sharper, more durable, and have a higher sales value.
In addition to machine innovation, the lecturers also provided training in digital marketing, branding strategies, and the implementation of Occupational Safety and Health (K3). This step is expected to better prepare Jombangan's batik MSMEs for increasingly fierce market competition.
Kusmiasih, owner of Batik Tulis Hadi Siswo, admitted to experiencing significant changes.
"With the fixation machine, our production is much faster and the quality of our batik has improved. Coupled with digital marketing and branding assistance, our business is even more competitive and supports Jombang's tourism sector," she said.
This program, fully supported by the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, not only focuses on increasing production capacity but also aims to strengthen the identity of Jombangan batik as a leading cultural product.
"We hope that Jombangan batik can become an icon that supports tourism and drives the regional creative economy," stated Dr. Woro.
With the synergy of academics, MSMEs, and government support, Jombangan batik has great potential to penetrate a wider market and strengthen Jombang Regency's image as a cultural tourism destination in East Java.
