On 9 July 2024, the Faculty of Design and Built Environment (FDBE) in collaboration with the National Craft Institute, hosted the Creative Craft Studio: Batik Making Workshop 2024. The event took place at Taman Rekreasi Templer in Rawang, Selangor. 10 students from BA (Hons) in Fashion Marketing accompanied by two lecturers, Sharifah Mazwari and Hosny Hassim participated in this immersive craft experience.

Participants were guided through the entire batik-making process, starting with an introduction to the materials and equipment used. They learned to trace batik patterns onto fabric, mount the fabric on frames, and use wax heaters. Applying wax with a canting, colouring the waxed patterns, drying the fabric, fixing colours with sodium silicate, and finally washing and boiling the fabric to remove the wax were all part of the comprehensive workshop. This hands-on experience provided the students with a thorough understanding of each step involved in batik making, ensuring they gained practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge.

Elia Grace Ng, a student from BA (Hons) in Fashion Marketing, noted “Learning batik making has opened my eyes to the rich history and artistry behind each pattern and colour combination. I’m thrilled to create a skirt using the batik I’ve crafted.” Another student from the same programme, Leong Luo Suen, shared “The process of applying wax and dyeing the fabric is both challenging and immensely satisfying. Exploring different motifs and experimenting with colours have sparked my passion for textile arts.”

The batik pieces created during the workshop will be used to make clothes and showcased at the Sequence Showcase in September 2024, highlighting the students’ newfound skills and creativity.