Social media lifeline for block batik
Preserving interest in this traditional handcraft via online platforms can help ensure its survival, writes Siti Syameen Md Khalili
HAMDAN Mattahar, 48, is among the few “batik cop“(block batik) makers left in Terengganu, and the likes of him continues to dwindle. He worries about this, but of late one of his children, Muhammad Danial, 20 is showing interest in following in his footsteps.
The family trade, which Hamdan has managed for decades along with his wife Mariam Haji Jusoh, is something he hopes to live on.
While Hamdan works with the wax and blocks, Mariam ensures the wax removal and colour setting process are done properly to achieve the desired quality.
Unfortunately, some people think making block batik is easy. Just use the copper block and stamp it on the fabric. However this is not the case.
“Batik making takes passion and perseverance, not to mention that the end product is influenced by so many factors, such as material costs and weather. It is hard to find youths interested in this kind of venture these days,“says Hamdan.
He is glad that his offspring is developing a healthy interest in the field. He noted that during the hot season, a piece of block batik sarung can be completed within three days, but with bad weather, the drying process is hampered by at least a day. process also contributes to creation of pattern on each piece of sarong.
A batik marketer, Ong Swee Lyn, co-founder of Batik Tree, also marvels at the beauty of Malaysian batik.
“Did you know that a sarong made during the hot or rainy seasons will differ in colour, despite the makers using the same process and materials? Just like the weather, the colours are darker when it is dried during the rainy season. You will never get the same shade,“says Ong of her personal observation.
Ong and her partner have been steadily bringing these variations to Kuala Lumpur to market.
Her outfit Batik Tree is reachable online via Facebook and, and they also participate in bazaars across many malls in the capital.
“Our customer base is composed of mostly affluent Malaysians, and, by affluent here we mean educated more so than wealthy. This is simply because we find them rather knowledgeable about batik and are aware of the tedious process of batik-making. They also acknowledge that handmade batik requires acquired skills and it is a piece of art indeed.
“It also goes without saying that expats and tourists too admire the vibrant colours of our batik and are aware of the batik-making process. As to why they like it, the general feedback that we have received from them is that our batik is really beautiful,“says Ong. find it difficult to continue on the trait. This obviously affects the amount of batik they make too, as they can‘t afford to make a steady supply of batik without much demand,“she says.
“We cannot speak on behalf of the industry, but what we can say is that one of Batik Tree‘s mission is to make batik accessible to as many people as possible. We want people (locals and foreigners) to use batik daily and not only on special events or occasions. Therefore, you will find the batik we offer is reasonably priced.
“We are aware that there are other batik that may cost more, but the public needs to understand each batik-making process before making a judgement call on pricing. For example, a hand-drawn or custom-ordered batik will cost more than hand-blocked batik. Batik should be expensive only when supply is low. However, it is not the case in Malaysia. The demand has declined due to the availability of printed batik,“says Ong.
“Unlike other countries where certain raw materials required to make batik can be found in their own country, in Malaysia, our craftsmen have to buy all raw materials from overseas as we don‘t manufacture them locally. The main materials such as cotton and dye are purchased from India, China and Russia. Therefore, when the Malaysian ringgit suffers, so do our craftsmen. Plus, when there is a price hike in petrol prices, it affects them too.
Ong hopes more Malaysians will adopt batik as their daily wardrobe. Social media is a tool not to be underestimated.
“What surprises us most is that many people associate batik with a specific design rather than actually knowing that batik is essentially the process of getting prints onto a piece of fabric.
“Secondly, they lack awareness and education in differentiating between handmade Promoting block batik via FB at Batik Tree.
and printed batik. Therefore, without knowing better, they buy printed batik — of course at a third of the price of handmade batik — thinking they bought genuine batik at a bargain,“she says.
She believes more can be done to promote local batik”There is just something so sweet about our own batik. While we can only catch customers in Kuala Lumpur for now, I rely on Facebook to help Batik Tree spread the word out about the quality of our own block batik. So far we‘ve sold sarongs to customers in Singapore, United States and Indonesia. While we want to reach out to as many customers who appreciate the art, we hope the first ones to realise that we have a thing of quality being produced right here on our own soil will be Malaysians,“says Ong.
Batik Tree‘s Facebook account is laden with postings of products, and Ong makes sure she shares her own findings when it comes to batik.
One of her postings highlights a news article on batik‘s connection with worlds outside Asia. “We believe education is key to preservation and conservation. So here is a really great article about batik,“she says.
Another recent post highlights some features that have made Malaysian batik unique. “You may not realise this but Malaysian batik is beautiful in many wonderful ways. The breaks on its wax lines are deliberately created by the artistes to make each piece unique. The colours depict our warm weather. The patterns are essentially Malaysian,“she says.
“Social media is a powerful tool when it comes to changing perceptions. I believe that with the right kind of exposure, block batik will find its glory once again. That means more education, and talking to people to help grow the market in other areas. We also hope that businesses in the areas of hospitality, interior design and apparel start including batik to promote its versatility and beauty,“she adds.
Ong leaves an important tip for upcoming batik curators: “If you‘re not careful, you might end up buying manufactured printed batik but that‘s not genuine batik.
“Handmade block-printed batik can be worn on both sides. There is no negative or positive side to a piece of batik. Plus, even if it is hand-blocked batik, no two pieces are the same. So, every piece of handmade batik that you own is unique.“