Batik’s back? A new generation of Malaysian designers fall in love with the traditional fabric
- Known for its vivid colours and intricate motifs, batik has a long and storied history, and is becoming increasingly common in more modern designs
Indonesia may be the undisputed king of batik – the traditional art of decorating fabric using wax and dye – but neighbouring Malaysia is embracing this versatile, time-honoured technique with increasing enthusiasm.
Batik fabric, known for its vivid colours and intricate animal and floral motifs, originated hundreds of years ago in maritime Southeast Asia – or Nusantara as the area is sometimes known.
Today, a number of small designers who work almost exclusively with the technique have popped up across Kuala Lumpur – putting a modern twist on a textile that is most commonly seen in Malaysia at weddings, as well as in more casual social settings on occasion.
Raz Bahari launched her brand Brava Batik in August. She now sells three main dress designs, each one reversible.
Because her summery designs do not adhere to strict Islamic dress codes, most of her customers are Westerners or ethnic Indians and Chinese – rather than Muslims, who form the majority of Malaysia’s population. But the positive response she has received so far has been encouraging, she says, and she plans to branch out into outerwear soon.
Although the bulk of designers in Malaysia still rely heavily on Indonesian batik patterns – replete with animal motifs and intricate geometry – a notable handful are pushing for heavier use of home-grown designs, which place more emphasis on flora instead of fauna.
