A Book On Malaysian Batik To Be Launched Friday

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- A book detailing on the Malaysian batik industry, entitled "Malaysian Batik: Reinventing a Tradition", will be launched on Friday in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur International Batik (KLIB) Convention and Exhibition 2011. The book, which traces the origins of batik, the materials, methods and motives of the block-stamped and hand-drawn methods, and the ways in which Malaysian batik has been transformed into a craft with international appeal, is expected to be launched by former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Yayasan Budi Penyayang Chief Executive Officer Leela Mohd Ali said the book was part of the initiatives by the yayasan in its efforts to revitalise the Malaysian batik industry by adapting it to suit fashion needs, and had used high fashion as a tool to promote and display its beauty. "We are now in phase six and the launching of the book is so special since it potrays Malaysia's creativity and the revival of the batik industry," she said at a press conference, here Monday. She also said the three-day KLIB, which is jointly organised by Yayasan Budi Penyayang and the Tourism Ministry with the theme "The Business of Batik", would feature a special segment on "Batik Handicraft" which consists of prototypes from the handicraft category of the Piala Seri Endon Competition. "There are three categories for Piala Seri Endon Competition, namely fashion, soft furnishing and handicraft," she said. KLIB will feature over 100 booths of international and local batik related products and services, and presentations by 19 batik experts in various fields, from people who have developed policy on the handicrafts industry in their countries to trademark holders for textiles. -- BERNAMA