KUALA TERENGGANU, Feb 9 — Kraftangan Malaysia Terengganu branch, together with 16 entrepreneurs under its umbrella have succeeded in producing batik products with the use of clay instead of candle wax.
Its director, Fazlin Mohamad Zaki, said the new batik products are known as marble clay, marble screen as well as marble clay and screen.
These batik products would be on display and put on sale for the first time at the East Coast Craft Textile Festival in Kuantan, Pahang from Feb 17 to 26, and National Craft Day being held at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex from Feb 23 to March 7.
“The clay being used is the same raw material used in the manufacture of pottery and ceramic products. It is an alternative to the traditional hot wax which were applied as a colour resistant material,” she told Bernama here.
Fazlin said the new innovation by Kraftangan Malaysia was more economical and easier to handle.
Meanwhile, several of the entrepreneurs when met agreed that the clay mixture was more viable than the blend of wax and resin.
Norazizah Kasim, 43, said clay is more easily available in the market, cost-effective and eco-friendly, without having to deal with the heat for the wax and resin mixture.
“The printing batik blocks only need to be dipped briefly in clay mixture and then stamped to the fabric and left to dry before the dyeing process is done,” said the Gee Batik Collections owner whose focus had been on the tie and dye technique.
Among the best-selling batik products expected at the two festivals, are shirts, blouses, palazzo pants, headscarves, kaftans and jubah (Muslimah long dress).
Sharing a similar sentiment, Mohd Shawal Awi, 37, said the technique of using clay was very suitable for the younger generation who are interested in batik production because with clay, should there be errors in the stamping process it could easily be corrected to avoid fabric wastage.
“That is the advantage of using clay. Anyone can learn and do not have to worry about fabric wastage. Most importantly, the process is very safe and convenient,” said Mohd Shawal, who is popular for various batik designs for men’s shirts.
Another batik entrepreneur, Suhaila Muda, 41, said the use of clay was also easier as the boiling process was no longer required to remove the mixture of wax and resin.
“On the other hand, the fabric only needs to be washed and dried for the dyeing process and this saves time and fuel costs,” she said.
Sources: BERNAMA