Bethani Ratih, owner of Limaran Batik
My name is Bethani Ratih from Solo (Surakarta) and I am 58 years old. I am an entrepreneur in fashion, specifically in batik. I started my own business 14 years ago after resigning from my former office job at one of the textile export companies in Solo.
With the help of a loan, I was able to rent a space and buy store furniture. Along the way, I learned to mix and match motifs and colours. In this manner, I learned by doing. Praise God… I found my world, my passion, and truly enjoy the process of my work. I have been invited by the Lidia cooperation several times to exhibit my work. I used this opportunity to attract customers to my brand Limaran Batik in Solo. There are many customers who are still loyal to my brand ever since.
Difficult times, such as the pandemic, have been valuable lessons for me as they taught me to handle partnerships with batik suppliers, collaborations with employees and financial setbacks. Thanks to God and selling “dasters” (house dresses), I managed to get through these times successfully.
To avoid competition and evolve with the times, I try to make batik clothes which are different from the clothing sold in shopping malls. I like to mix and match or play with modern motifs and limited editions. Besides my own store, I also sell Limaran batik at batik shops at the airport of Yogyakarta and Semarang.
I hope that this story of Limaran batik inspires amazing ladies of the Lidia Cooperation GKJ Manahan to always follow your passion and keep going, even in difficult times.
