Java Art is a fair trade family run business that was established in the summer of 1989. Nick, the Director, stopped off in South- East Asia, on the way back from a working holiday in Australia. When visiting Yogyakarta in Java, he was mesmerized by the stunning array of handicrafts and artwork that surrounded him. He brought back a bundle of batik artwork (a traditional process involving waxing and dyeing fabric by hand known as ‘batik tulis’) which he had framed and sold at The Plymouth Home Life Exhibition. The seeds were sown for Java Art as it exists today.
Java Art was set up with the combined aim of enlightening the West with the spectacular handicraft creations of Indonesia’s highly skilled artisans, whilst enhancing the welfare and quality of life of the workers, their families and wider communities. More is said about this on our page titled ‘Fair Trade’.
Over time, we have seen the handicraft industry evolve into what has now become an array of cultures and influences, where West meets East without compromise to its traditional roots utilising many of the local materials in a sustainable manor.