Embrace The Uniqueness Of Malaysia S Beloved Fabric At Jadi Batek

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From clothes to bags, it’s a true paradise for batik lovers at Jadi Batek. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)KUALA LUMPUR: When was the last time you wore batik? Do you, perhaps, consider it old-fashioned, more suited to the older generation?
A visit to Jadi Batek on Jalan Inai here may change your mind. A one-stop centre for shopping and learning, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the timeless beauty of Malaysia’s classic fabric.
For those eager to do some last-minute Hari Raya shopping, be prepared to be wowed by the vast array of products, from accessories to apparel. There are even samfu shirts and cheongsam made from batik!
You can also join a free tour to learn about the history of Malaysian batik, known for its bold designs and vibrant colours, and even witness the batik-making process.
Keen to give it a try? Classes are available, and although there is a fee, you can bring your masterpiece home.
During FMT Lifestyle’s visit, both locals and tourists could be seen enjoying themselves in the classes. Fun fact: even Ed Sheeran joined a class when he visited in February!
Colin Yong, clad in a samfu shirt made from batik, is the second-generation owner of Jadi Batek. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)Uniquely, Jadi Batek is run by its second-generation Chinese owner, Colin Yong.
“My father started as a salesperson in Jadi Batek in the 1970s,” the 51-year-old told FMT Lifestyle. “His boss was Tan Sri Tan Hian Tsin. When he wanted to sell the business in 1976, my father, Yong Jo, decided to take over.”
While Colin’s mother, Thong Lai Ying, tailored batik shirts and ties, his father ran the shop and distributed their products on a wholesale basis to other businesses.
Colin, the eldest of three children, remembers helping at the shop, then located on Jalan Sultan Ismail.
Despite being surrounded by batik, though, he didn’t develop much interest in it – until he went abroad to study and came back with some Japanese friends during a break.
“When they saw our batik, they were very interested to understand the batik-making process. They wanted to know more about it,” he recalled.
Batik artist Rayappan Alfred creating a stunning masterpiece. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)Realising he didn’t know much about the process served as a wake-up call for Colin. It made him appreciate the craft, as well as the potential of the business to grow.
Later, his father, who wanted to retire, asked if he was interested in taking over. “I saw the opportunity to promote batik. There were not many competitors at that time. So, I took on the challenge.”
In 1999, Colin joined the business and subsequently moved it to their present location, with a vision of growing the store into a handicraft centre.
With a bigger space, he introduced batik tours and classes, and brought batik artists from throughout Malaysia so they could produce their own handcrafted fabric.
Malaysian masterpiece
While showing the FMT Lifestyle team around, Colin shared that they have two different processes for making batik: hand-drawn and block-printed.
With the former, a metal tool called a “canting” is used to draw designs on a piece of fabric with hot liquid wax. With the latter, a copper block or wooden stamp with a patterned base is dipped into wax and printed onto the fabric.
Wan Jafnan Wan Ariffin and his daughters are among the talented team at Jadi Batek. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)Among the skillful artists on the team is Wan Jafnan Wan Ariffin, who has been working with Jadi Batek for 15 years. His experience with batik spans almost two decades, having learnt it from his hometown in Kelantan.
He has since taught the craft to his two daughters, who also work at the store.
“Batik is an art that attracts different layers of society, both locals and tourists. It’s global; anywhere you go, it can be translated into clothes, souvenirs and other products,” said the 49-year-old.
“That’s why I find batik to be unique and it needs to be preserved in Malaysia,” he added.
A similar sentiment is echoed by Colin, who concluded: “What I love about batik is that it’s a way for us to communicate; to tell the world who we are: ‘I am a Malaysian’.”
Learn more about Jadi Batek via its website, Facebook and Instagram.
Jadi Batek
30, Jalan Inai,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 9am-5.30pm daily
-FMT

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