Laweyan Batik is a central of batik home industry since Pajang Kingdom in 1546. In that period Batik was dominated by enterprise owner and until today batik is still practiced by locals. Batik Laweyan is currently designed as integrated batik kampung covered 24 ha consisted of 3 blocks.
Among batik motives found in Laweyan are Tirto Tejo and Truntum as the typical of the local motives. Kampung Batik Laweyan is designed to create a house of gallery, as a showroom and as production house.
Traditional arts found in Laweyan are keroncong, karawitan, rebana. Laweyan also has historical sites such as grave of Kyai Ageng Henis (the ancestor of Mataram kings), the former house of Ki Ageng Henis and Sutawijaya, the former Laweyan Market, Former Bandar Kabanaran, Jayengrana grave (Untung Surapati crew), Merdeka mosque, Makmoer Mosque, H Samanhudi (the founder of Serikat Dagang Islam) house.
Laweyan is also known for its houses owned by enterprises owner which are influenced by Javanese, European, Chinese and Islam architecture. Those buildings were equipped with high fence or beteng and created narrow isles as town space area.
Batik is familiar with Laweyan locals since 19th century and in the 1970s it reached its glorious day. The villages in Laweyan area are laweyan village, Tegalsari, Tegalayu, Batikan, and Jongke. Laweyan was the place where Syarikat Dagang Islam found, the first trade association found by producers and traders of batik in 1912.
Those glorious day can still be seen from Gal Gendhu. In Laweyan area there is Dr Rajiman street , one of main street of Keraton Kasunanan Surakarta, the former Mataram Palace in Kartasura. ALong Jalan Rajiman, high wall cover mansions with wide wooden gate. In a glance, it looks dreary but when they open, mansions with wonderful architecture revealed. The mansion usually is consisted of main building in the middle, wing building on the left and right and ancillary building on its rear, with large front yard.
Unfortunately, one by one the beautiful buildings was gone and replaced by shops.