The International Fair recently became an annual celebration at the University of Richmond. This April marked the third year this event occurred! Despite the power outage, we saw high attendance, as hundreds of eager students rushed into THC, full of energy (which ironically, the school had none of).
In preparation for the event, other than talking about what we were going to cook, we talked about what we were going to wear. After all, despite the multicultural nature of Malaysia, we wanted to come in as a united front to showcase our culture outside of just food. We decided to wear our batik shirts, which were button-up shirts made of fabric with intricate, unique designs. Reflecting on this, I realized that batik is an important cultural artifact that is often overlooked when discussing Malaysian culture.
The word batik is derived from the Javanese word ambatik. In Javanese, it means “to write with wax”, and batik is exactly that. Batik is uniquely designed textiles created through intricate wax techniques. The wax is applied to the fabric, which is then dyed, and the wax is removed to reveal the patterned design.
It is a form of traditional fabric art that has deep cultural significance in Malaysia, representing the country’s rich heritage and regional identity. through artistic expression. Given this, batik is considered a symbol of national pride, often seen in fashion, both formal and informal.
Now, batik isn’t exclusively available in Malaysia. In fact, many people associate batik fabrics with our neighbouring country, Indonesia. Despite sharing the name and the dyeing technique, there are actually key differences between the two textiles.
https://kalawear.com/blogs/batik/batik-indonesia-vs-batik-malaysia
Indonesian Batik is traditionally designed with the canting, which is a pen-like tool used to hand-draw wax patterns for the designs. They also use a batik cap (or copper stamps) to create repeating patterns. Malaysian Batik, on the other hand, is primarily made with brush painting and block printing techniques. Designs are often hand-painted directly onto the fabric using vibrant dyes, which are said to be faster and allow for more freedom of expression.
While color can vary depending on the design, Indonesian batik is said to have a more muted color scheme, opting for earthy, traditional tones. Malaysian batik, on the other hand, focuses on vibrancy, choosing bright and bold colors. Indonesian Batik originated in Java, and the technique dates back centuries. In fact, it was officially recognized by UNESCO as a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" back in 2009. Malaysian batik is more regional and was developed in the states of Kelantan and Terengganu. While it isn't officially recognized by UNESCO, it is still strongly promoted as a national symbol of culture. Batik transcends racial barriers, worn by Malaysians during special occasions regardless of ethnicity.
While batik is associated with traditional wear, it has recently seen a resurgence in popularity in younger generations, with the increase in modern designs using traditional patterns to appeal to a more urban market. While batik is traditionally worn with other forms of cultural wear, it has become more normalized in daily society, where these initiatives are redefining it as sustainable and stylish. Government support has also driven this change, where civil servants are required/highly encouraged to wear batik on Thursdays. This initiative brings more awareness to it overall, alongside collaborations between local artists and designers to preserve traditional craftsmanship while matching it to a modern audience. Regardless of how you choose to style it, it represents a significant part of Malaysian culture; one that unites all ethnicities across ages.
Replies