Batik maker makes his mark with ecoprint

All natural: Khairizal helping his wife, Tuan Najdah Tuan Muhammad Adnan, arrange leaves on a cloth that will then be rolled and tied up before being steamed for two hours.

PENDANG: A batik maker from Kampung Padang Durian here is using a new technique called ecoprint which is more environmentally-friendly.

Khairizal Ishak, who has been making batik since 2012, said the technique involved using plant material such as leaves, bark and roots rather than chemical ingredients.

“Not many people are using this technique because of its long and complicated process.

“It will take between nine and 14 days to produce five pieces of batik cloth, but it has its own admirers, ” he said when met at his workshop in the village.

Khairizal, 33, said the plant material would leave its natural colour and shapes on the fabric after being placed on it, rolled and neatly tied before being steamed for two hours.

The finished product. The ecoprint batik is four metres long and sells at RM580 per piece. — Bernama

“The leaves need to be treated overnight to release the natural dye inside them, ” he said.

Khairizal, who also produces hand-drawn batik canting, said he had received orders from the late Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Kedah Ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The diploma holder in batik design said he was able to produce about 50 pieces of ecoprint batik a month and sold them at RM580 per piece (four metres), but after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, the number declined to about 20 pieces a month.

“Before this, I participated in many events such as the National Craft Day to promote and sell batik, but now my business relies heavily on online sales and orders from regular customers.

“I also plan to hold online classes for those who want to learn batik-making techniques, ” he said. — Bernama