The Story of My Childhood, Helping My Dad With His Little Silk Batik Factory

I was 7 years old when my dad started his little factory for the Silk Batik. It’s called with Koperasi Taruna Mandiri and it was the only one silk factory in Klaten at that time. My dad was working for the government and also having this business. That is interesting experience for me also to help my dad sometimes.

What I know from the business is that he has a field to plant the murberry trees. He plants the trees with his team including my mom, my uncles and other neighbors in our village. Then they will take the fresh murberry leaves to feed the silkworms.

At the first time what my dad do besides planting the murberry trees is taking care of the eggs of the silkworm. Then when the silkworm changes into white color and little bit bigger, my dad started feeding them with murberry trees but in small size. So we need to slice them into small pieces for the little silkworms.

My dad would feed them 3 times in a day like in the morning, afternoon and at night. He has some staff who help him to feed the silkworm. My dad was taking care of the silkworm carefully because they need to be good quality which it will influence the result of the yarn they make. So, patiently my dad feeding them and trying his best for taking care of the silkworm. Even my dad was measuring the right temperature everytime to check it’s good for the silkworm. If the temperature is not good, the result of the cocoons from the silkworm would not good.

After the silkworm is mature enough, they will make some cocoons. Then it will need to be processed in the yarn rolling tools. Sometimes if i is too late, the cocoons will change into butterfly. The funny thing that I remember from the time was when my dad feeding them at night and he lay down on my bed, the silkworm would be sticked on his t-shirt and moved to my bed. So, I always found the silkworm on my bed. Ha Ha Ha

Then one more thing that is sad. When the larva and cocoons are becoming a rubbish. We have a pond and we put our fish that love eating dush or the cleaner fish into the pond. Then my dad feed him.with the larva includin the yarn together. The fish ate them and it was twisted by the yarn. Ouh poor fish… We’re sad about that before and we regret that.

Ouh continue to the silk factory, my mum was the one who designing the batik patterns. She drew the batik by herself and gave them to my family partner business who would do coloring for the silk batik. She is very talented in drawing the batik. So, It’s kind of good team for my family. I was enjoying helping my dad to get the murberry leaves and eating the murberry also cutting the leaves and feeding the silkworm. It was unforgettable experience.

My dad had a chance to go to China after his big effort on the silk factory. It is the only one natural silk factory in our hometown. He made some workshops for people who wants to learn how to do the business. He would explain the history, how to manage the business, and all the details how to take care of the silkworm until the process making the silk. He accomodated them to stay at our place to study about silkworm.

I’m very proud of my dad, he has done a lot of works and effort in his life. From the silkworm and silk factory, bee and honey business, bio oil business, until rubbish bank. He is a great man that inspire me to work harder and always be patient in maintaining business. I wish the silk factory will be exist again.