The Batik Factory
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Monday, 19 March 2007

The art of making batikWe happened to chance upon a batik factory...

Batik dyeing
cloth dyeing
Thetravelerspage paid a visit to a unique Batik factory off the old road to Bentong. We were actually looking for the "Muzium Orang Asli" or the Museum for the Indigenous People when we chance upon the factory and decided to pop in to have a look. The factory had a very nice setting as it was nestled among a Malay village (kampung). You could see children playing games along the pathways, a river behind the factory and the Malay architecture was very evident in the houses that you pass by before you reach this batik factory.


malay girl
Che Aisyah
En Zulkharnain the Managing Director of Barakaff Batik was kind enough to invite us in although we did not had any appointment and even had their staff Che Aisyah stop her work just to show us around. This Malaysian hospitality made us feel very at home as Che Aisyah gave us a detailed guide to the process of batik making.


batik waxing
Details are hand drawn
Being totally blur regarding Batik and textiles it was quite a bit for us to grasp as Che Aisyah showed us the type of textiles usually used for Batik and the process of waxing, dyeing, drawing in the patterns(chanting), dyeing it again till the final washing. She was very patient as we asked her to repeat and repeat the process again.


In the end it was quite a learning experience to see first hand the process of making batik. According to En Zulkharnain, all the creations and patterns was designed by his mother who had started this business about 30 years ago. No two design is alike. Each one is tediously hand drawn and made. Unlike the printed batik where it is produce in large quantities, the batik from Barakraff is made individually and each has its own unique beauty.batik painting


As we took up much of their time, it was time for us to leave. Che Aisyah had said she took 4 years to obtain a degree in textile engineering and design, I guess we would not be able to do it with the 2 hours we spent there, but we were grateful for her patience and the hospitality of En Zulkharrnain and Barakaff Batik.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 21 July 2007 )