Shopping for Malaysia Batik in Kuala Lumpur
Colourful batik cloths hung up for sale
Visitors to Malaysia who want to pick up some high quality batik in Kuala Lumpur are in for a true delight. There are many superb vendors offering the real deal at reasonable prices. However, there are also a few unscrupulous merchants who are not afraid to make a fast buck by offloading fake and low-quality garments to unsuspecting travellers. But with our handy guide for shopping for batik in KL you have all the information you need to make an informed choice.
What is batik?
‘Batik’ literally means ‘writing in wax’ and the delicate patterns are formed by an artist drawing intricate shapes on a garment in wax and then particular colours are dyed onto the fabric. This process is then repeated until the desired effect is achieved. Then the wax is removed by steaming, boiling or – more often these days – ironing with some thin paper to absorb the melting liquid.
Batik is found in various forms around Asia but is thought to have originated in ancient Egypt as examples have been discovered in tombs dating back 2,000 years. It became especially popular amongst women from the Indonesian island of Java from the 13th century, although some of the best examples are sourced from east Malaysia. In modern times world figures such as former South African president Nelson Mandela was often seen wearing shirts with batik print.
Malaysian literature from the 17th century mentions the production of batik. Legend has it that Sultan Mahmud ordered Laksamana Hang Nadim to travel to India to and return with 140 pieces of batik serasah cloth sporting 40 different varieties of flower displayed on each. But when the seasoned adventurer was unable to find any that fit the bill in the subcontinent he decided to design his own. Unfortunately his ship sunk on the return voyage and he only managed to present four pieces to the furious Sultan.
Buying batik in Kuala Lumpur
Although the individual patterns of different batik styles were one associated with identifying a particular tribe or group, today batik has been adopted by many contemporary designers without reference to its historic significance. Batik patterns are often printed onto beach towels and sarongs or cheap t-shirts available in market stalls.
Woman pours wax design onto the material
Malaysian designer Eric Tho has long used batik patterns for decorating dresses and shirts from a small motifs to whole patterns used in his work. There are also all manner of modern household furnishings such as bedspreads, cushions and duvet covers that can be found sporting batik prints. And there is a distinctive move towards tropical images that Westerners favour instead of traditional imagery.
One of the best places to go shopping for batik in Kuala Lumpur is at the city’s Central Market. Here there are many stalls and boutiques displaying a variety of wares from traditional garments to more modern interpretations fresh from the catwalk. Although the prices are sometimes a little steeper, there is little worry about the quality of what is on offer here. More on Central Market.
Jadi Batek Gallery has workshops and demonstrations of the art at its impressive factory (Jalan Inai, off Jalan Imbi, +60 (0)3 2145 1133) while Batek Malaysia (38 Jalan Chow Kit, Taman Cahaya, +60 (0)3 4044 5491) has a great range of traditional and modern designs and will hear special requests.
A good proportion of tours to the big sights around town will include an obligatory stop off at a Kuala Lumpur batik factory where visitors can watch design process and purchase the finished product. The tour guide obviously receives a commission from the factory owner for shepherding you through the door, nonetheless if short on time this can still be a good way of finding quality gear at fairly reasonably prices. And sometimes there is the option to put your own stamp on the finished article by helping with some of the designs.
Special events such as the Kuala Lumpur International Batik Conventionis defintitely worth catching if in town. Experts from all over the batik-creating world enjoy exhibitions and talks for three days including the renown Piala Seri Endon designing competition.
Travel fact
The Malaysian government has leapt upon the idea of batik cloth embodying a national identity and has commissioned local tailors to come up with new designs displaying the Malaysian ideal. The result is that batik has been adopted as formal attire and it is common to see both men and women sporting traditional geometric and leaf patterns at important state functions. Indeed, civil servants are encouraged to wear batik on the first and 15th day of each month.
Maintaining batik
Batik cloth is worth treating carefully to ensure it stays in the best possible condition. It is important to hand rather than machine wash the cloth, and if possible merely to soak it in mild soapy water and then rinse out. It is best not to squeeze the cloth but just to allow it to drip dry out of direct sunlight which can dull bright colours. Avoid spraying with perfume or ironing the cloth directly but steam instead, and silk batik should always be dry cleaned.
