For the past month, I have been in Malaysia; swimming in the sea of batik fabric that is ubiquitous in this country. Here, batiks are considered fashion and designers are the artists whose “artwork” adorn those who have the money to wear the luxurious silk material.
A study of Malaysian batik is thus a study in runway models, fashion shows, catwalks, magazines and advertising.
There are batik shops, galleries and factories everywhere!
No matter how talented or creative designers are however, they will never be able to escape Malaysia’s Islamic religion, which binds them to adhere to the traditional baju kurongs or kebayas that are the standard dress for all Muslims. Since this is a religion that forbids animal motifs of any kind, all designs are restricted to flora and fauna. A few contemporary designers have tried to be more innovative by creating more geometric patterns in their fabric.
What a difference this glamorous lifestyle has been from the simplicity and peace of my seaside home in Thailand! How I miss the kind villagers who embraced me whole-heartedly everyday, no matter what I looked like on the outside or how expensive my attire. If there is one thing I have learned this month, it is that money really does not buy love or happiness. Personally, I would much rather live in a shabby shack on the beach with those who love me, then in a grand mansion next to neighbors who despise and envy me.
What about you?
1 comment:
hi there. you put it very right. that the batik motifs are usually flora only. but then again, you do see more modern batiks having butterflies which in a way seem like a trademark for batik Malaysia.
and again, there are actually high end luxurious batik, but there are also the cheaper ones which are much more affordable. these are mainly in the east coast states of terengganu & kelantan :)
the ones you see at the malls are usually the high end ones. the designer ones are even more high end :)
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