ALLURE OF BATIK
Four young Bosnian-Malays hope to promote it to friends abroad
FOUR young BosnianMalay lasses are enamoured with batik because of its colourful and intricate designs. Making it part of their mixed Malay and Bosnian heritage, they hope to promote it to friends abroad.
They also hope to gain more knowledge on the art and the clothing designs by attending events such as the Malaysia Batik Fest.
Maryam Sinanovic, 23, raised in Malaysia, is half Kedahan. She seeks to have a better understanding of the traditional art form so that she can learn more of her heritage when she is back home from the United States.
“Having something like batik, I can explain to my friends about Malaysia’s culture. I am half Kedahan, I know a bit about the local batik.
“It’s also easy to recognise Malaysian batik, we have batik from Terengganu and Kedah. Our batik has its own distinct style.
“For me, it is important to show my friends in the US the local culture like batik,” she said at the Malaysia Batik Festival at Malaysia Tourism Centre here, yesterday.
Rabieah Ariff, 23, who has been working here for the past two years and is leaving for the United Kingdom soon, wants to carry a little bit of Malaysia with her in the form of batik accessories.
“I will be taking batik earrings from a local vendor. Personally, I have not used batik much before but with accessories, I can match any outfit with them.
“It’s really nice to see local designers incorporate batik into their designs.”
For sisters Maryam and Safija Spahič, born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, batik is very much part of their daily lives.
“I have been wearing baju kurung with a batik motif. My favourite is kebaya and of course, I use batik every day as taught by my mother.
“In fact, I have been going to the batik festival held in Kuala Lumpur with my mother every year,” said Maryam, 23, in fluent Malay at the event.
Her sister, Safija, 21, said she loved batik because of the intricacy in design and events like this would help her learn more about the local batik industry.
Meanwhile, best friends Barbara Haar and Julie Margulies, both 70, visiting from the United States, and who are avid batik enthusiasts, found out about the event through the New Straits Times. Barbara said the duo had visited most Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam to learn each country’s form of batik.
“Our visit to Malaysia is to learn how they make the batik. We both have been taught batik drawing and would love to visit Terengganu for their batik and experience it ourselves,” she said.