Models showing off the winning ‘Kampung’ collection. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
INSPIRED by memories of their childhood, Suzieana Rahim, 36, Mohd Fadhil Md Taib, 33 and Mohd Nizam Shahbudin, 38, featured the Melaka kampung house in their batik design and walked away with the grand prize of RM30,000 in the fashion category at the grand finals of this year’s Piala Seri Endon Batik Design (PSE) competition.
Using the “canting halus” technique on crepe, satin and cotton fabrics, the trio took three weeks to hand draw the designs onto four sets of garments.
Speaking to reporters after the mock cheque presentation, Mohd Fadhil said the group had decided to stay true to their artistic roots by going with the traditional kampung theme.
“The idea came during this year’s Hari Raya celebrations. Many of our fondest memories are from the time when we were growing up in our hometowns.
“For us, it was Alor Gajah in Melaka. This is why if you study our design up close, you will see elements like traditional games as well in the drawings,” he said.
The trio’s “Kampung” entry featured detailed lines depicting wooden houses set amid banana leaf fronds. The drawing was further bordered by intricate patterns typically found on a colourful batik sarong worn by village folk.
(From left) Mohd Nizam, Suzieana and Mohd Fadhil with a mock cheque for the grand prize they won.
Audiences said the trio’s design was most vivid in a pair of Bermuda shorts featured in this collection.
On what they intend to do with the prize money, Mohd Fadhil said the trio has no plans as yet.
“We did not expect to win in the first place!” he said.
However, he said the prize money will most likely be reinvested into their batik design business.
“There is enough to start a new line,” he added.
This year’s fashion category saw a total of 35 entries compared to 28 last year.
The participants were required to create four sets of finished garments, including formal and casual outfits for men and women.
Coming in second and third place in the fashion category were Syahrul Amirul Samsuri, 36, and Mohd Faizul Noorizan, 38, who received RM10,000 and RM5,000 respectively.
Syahrul, who had used the “kelarai” motif as a main theme on cotton silk, said his design was inspired by the colours seen during the hot and rainy seasons.
“I used mustard gold to depict the hot weather and navy and baby blues for the rainy season,” he said.
In Mohd Faizul’s entry, two features that stand out from his collection of satin silk garments are the crystals that were hot pressed and embroidered into a formal gown and the flowy butterfly-like sleeves in a knee-length dress.
Other winners from the handicraft and soft furnishing category were Nazira Radzali who had featured a pillowy-shaped snake in her collection of bags, pillowcases and purses, and Wariseni with a brown-and-silver bedspread. Both took home a prize of RM30,000.
The grand finals for this year’s PSE competition took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Datuk Mohamed Najib Ahmad Dawa, former director of National Art Gallery, presided as chief judge.
