Malaysian Batik Industry Needs `Fresh Infusion` Of Ideas

Kuala Lumpur - When someone sees a batik cloth, the person may have two impressions about it.

First, the batik is just a cheap product and can be worn daily or for any occasions. The second, batik is one of the splendid and exclusive form of Malay handicraft work and thus expensive and not meant for the masses.

These two false notions have divided the nation‘s batik industry - one group wishes to retain its traditions, while the other prefers to commercialise it apart from making it more contemporary.

The bottom line is, batik is not merely fashion wear but also the manifestation of lifestyle.

Textile expert Associate Professor Mohd Najib Mohd Noor from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) has this to say: batik is a lifestyle culture of Malaysians.

"Do not place any limits on batik‘s potential. Batik of today has evolved tremendously compared to what it was before," he said.

BATIK SARONG
There is truth to Mohd Najib‘s viewpoint. Take a look at the multi-purpose batik sarong.

Apart from its use as daily wear, batik sarong can also be utilised as a frock and head cover. In the rural areas where the bathroom is outdoors, it can be used a ‘towel to cover the body‘ apart from being used as a hammock for little children to sleep in.

Many would be suprised to learn that batik was introduced in the country by the Nyonya clan. However it has taken deep roots in the Malay culture.

Hence, the move by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry as well as the Malaysian Handicraft Corporation to hold the Batik Appreciation Forum chaired by UiTM‘s Dr Dzil Haimi Md Zain was apt and most welcomed.

The forum was held at the Handicraft Complex in Jalan Conlay here recently.

NEW LIFE
Old ideas with a blend of innovative, stylish and trendy touches would not only breathe new life to this industry, but also prove that Malaysian batik can venture much further.

Mohd Najib said many among the local batik entrepreneurs are reluctant to inject fresh ideas into their products. Static designs would make batik enthusiasts to shy away.

"What more if a pair of batik cloth is offered in the uncut version, with the hope that person who buys it would bring the material to the dressmaker. This is why the batik industry has yet to achieve its full potential.

"If we aim to develop this industry as a commercial entity, batik must not be merely half-baked products. Batik should be available in the ready-made form and can be worn according to current trends," he said.

MALAYSIAN-IDENTITY BATIK

If batik is to be made a lifestyle product, then it should have the Malaysian identity.

Other countries like Indonesia, China, Japan and Thailand have their own batik too, but the irony is that Indonesian batik is more recognised internationally.

For Najib this is no surprise, as the avant-garde Indonesian entrepreneurs have taken pains to maintain their batik traditions in the form of designs and colours while keeping the products contemprorary.

In contrast to Malaysia, only few batik producers took the effort to incorporate the Malaysian identity and culture in their products.

EXPERTISE, RESEARCH
According to Malaysian Institute of Arts (MIA) lecturer Samsudin Abu Bakar, when associating batik with lifestyle, it is not that batik-makers are unable to produce the desired works. Instead they do not have the expertise to conduct research.

"For example, if we need different fabrics for furniture. The batik fabrics here may not be suitable for use in temperate countries," said Samsudin who is also a batik entrepreneur.

"It‘s not that Malaysian batik is devoid of identity, but there are no database on the designs and colours that have been produced.

He gave an example when a foreign firm bought a batik product from a local company. If the same company return for the same product some years later, the local firm may not be able to meet the order as it does not have a proper record on the product.

BOLD COLOURS, MOTIFS

The founder of ‘Ilham Cipta‘, a company that produces batik designs and fabrics, Masrina Abdullah feels otherwise that Malaysian batik already has its own identity.

She said based on its bold colours and motifs, the identity has long been established and has been used by previous generations.

"We cannot totally abandon what we have. Batik is a tradition, therefore if we want to create batik, we cannot change its identity," she said.

Batik may be labelled as inspirational or contemporary but it should not be modernised as it means changing something authentic, said Masrina who has worked alongside Italian fashion designer Roberta di Camerino using the approach ‘Malaysian Batik, Italian Inspiration‘.

EXCLUSIVE MARKET

On the high price of batik particularly in the fashion industry, Masrina said it depends on the approaches.

If the wear is for an exclusive market, then definitely the price is high as the batik products is refined and delicate.

"There are still many entrepreneurs producing batik for the masses. Do not forget that the ‘batik lukis (canting)‘ ia a fine art. The artwork produced should be appreciated," she said.

Another leading batik producer, Ab Kareem Khadaied of Khadani Sdn Bhd said the existing traditional batik craft is good enough for export.

Ab Kareem can vouch for this as he has been exporting batik to the European market and collaborating with major corporations for some 20 years.

"The notion that the local batik-producing methods are not good enough for making batik for large-scale exports is wrong.

"The thing lacking here is the scientific research on batik-making and shortage of skilled manpower," he said.

Source: www.bernama.com.my (8 Oktober 2007)
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