The Power Of Batik

Sartorial and iconic, batik is more than just a symbol of our shared heritage. It might just be the next revolution in regional men's fashion

- Suffian Hakim

WE'RE ENTERING THE FINAL MONTH of the Batik Kita: Dressing in Port Cities exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). We thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition, a presentation at the intersection of history, culture, art and fashion. Located on the museum's second level, this presentation of batik cloths and batik fashion pieces from our region and beyond is put together by Guest Curator Lee Chor Lin with the ACM's support.

The term batik refers to both the technique of wax-resist dyeing that creates its prominent designs, as well as cloths and fashion pieces that feature designs created with the technique. It is recognised by UNESCO as a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity". While many rightfully associate batik with Java or perhaps the Indonesian islands at large, it has since become a regional icon, used in everything from home décor to upholstery and, of course, fashion.

The exhibition focuses on motifs and the cloth rather than its use, other than in fashion. And you can see this thinking very clearly when you visit the showcase.