Known as the largest batik market in Indonesia, Pasar Klewer is not to be missed out in your Solo tour itinerary, especially those addicted to shopping. Wide range of batik products are available here at Pasar Klewer, from cotton stamp batik priced at only a few bucks to hand painted silk batik priced more than a grand.
The history noted that during the colonial age, Pasar Klewer is a train stopover station. Crowd of passengers attracted merchants to offer various goods, the area surrounding the train station then grew into a marketplace known Pasar Slompretan. The name “slompratan” – in Javanese mean trumpet – comes from the train horn which to people ears sounded like trumpet. As time went by Pasar Slompretan hosted more and more batik merchants. Batik supply was carried by laborers on their shoulder, leaving exceeding textile waving around, a condition which in Javanese expressed as “berkleweran”. Decades later the former name Pasar Slompretan faded away and people prefer to call it Pasar Klewer instead.
Back in 1970 the government refurbished the market into an ample two story building that hosted more than 2000 kiosks. Corridors and stairways were wide to impose even more spaciousness.
Traversing along crisscrossing corridor from one block to another we can find various kinds of batik. In addition to fabric there are also ready-made clothes from traditional Javanese costume called “kebaya” to daily clothing for kids. More than native batik of Solo, there are also batik types from other areas each with unique distinction like batik from Pekalongan, Banyumas, Madura, and Yogyakarta.
From cotton stamped batik costs a few bucks to silk hand-painted batik costs more than a grand can be brought back home at a fraction of price at boutiques and shops with one condition, you have to posses top bargaining skill. Here at Pasar Klewer, bargaining is an art. If you buy plenty then the merchant will make it a bulk order with unbelievable wholesaler discount.
On the upper floor are various kind of textile, making Pasar Klewer not only a huge batik marketplace but also textile of any kinds. Here at the second floor you can also find tailors who can magically change the raw fabric you bought into beautiful clothes in a blink of your eyes.
