KUCHING: Sarawak entrepreneur, Diana Rose, aims to popularise Batik Linut in the local fashion industry.
At the same time the 57-year-old who is the managing director of Lamin Dana Sdn Bhd also wants to promote tourism in Sarawak through Batik Linut.
Linut Batik or Linut Textile, Diana explained, came about when Malaysian Handicrafts informed her of their desire to establish a new batik community.
“They asked me to make a new innovation using cassava flour, but I told them instead of experimenting with cassava it is better to try something close to the national identity and I suggested using sago,” she said.
At first she said, she encountered failure in two experiments conducted around February 2019.
Everything failed, she said, because sago flour can only be used on cotton textiles (poplin, a kind of hard and shiny cotton fabric).
“We also tried with other types of fabric, it didn’t work either, but we refused to give up and continued to experiment and it took two years to do it.
“At the end of 2021, we managed to do it with cotton poplin, viscose, silk and chiffon.
“From there I saw a ray of hope to commercialise it and on November 24, 2021 Batik Linut Lamin Dana was inaugurated by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in Miri. Now we are doing a market test,” she said.
“We are running it now, therefore we feel confident as a platform that brings Sarawak products abroad with the support of the community and the government and the global network we have built.
“Also with the hope that it is not just to bring Sarawak products abroad but also for use in the domestic market,” she said.
Having said this, Diana thinks the batik should not be compared to those produced in Terengganu and Kelantan where the industry is more advanced.
“The skill and finesse of the batik patterns they produce is really high and quite difficult to compare with batik makers from Sarawak and Sabah.”
“Here we are looking for a way to use the natural resources available to be highlighted in the manufacture of new craft products and the selection of Mukah was made based on the production of sago which is easily available at low cost to ensure the continuity of production.
“The selection of motifs is based on traditional Melanau fashion and nature which symbolises the identity of the community and place,” she said.
Diana said she had been to Dubai last May and was looking at the possibility of having a fashion selection to explore the market there.
“We are setting a target to participate in an exhibition in Milan, Italy and hope to do our best,” she said.
With four designers and one in-house designer, Diana said she is able to produce textiles in a week on an average of 125 meters of fabric which can produce between five and six pieces of complete product.
“We sell face masks at a price of RM15 and the most expensive is silk fabric which can reach RM180 per metre,” she added.
She also revealed plans to have an office and gallery in Kuching from next year.
According to Diana, the effect of folds and crumples on the lint-coated fabric will give a unique and different background pattern, making each piece of clothing that is produced look special.
“We are all really excited about the production of this lint batik because it uses basic materials that are around us and the price is cheap.
“Most importantly it also attracts young people including students, housewives, entrepreneurs and fashion designers. This project also indirectly allows us to bring together people involved in the textile industry including in the new craft community.
“This is the first time we have produced batik with a new pattern in the hope that one day it can become an exclusive product of the people here,” she said.
She feels lucky to be directly involved in the production of lint batik using local products that are easily available at cheap prices.
“The process may be a bit laborious because each piece of fabric needs to be dyed and dried repeatedly but when we see the result, we are really excited.
“In fact, some of my friends here are also directly involved in cutting and sewing clothes from the batik we produce,” she said.
Batik Linut can be found at Galeri Batik Linut, Coco Cobana Miri, Lamin Dana Craft and Gallery at Lamin Dana Lodge, Mukah, Sarawak Craft Council Gallery (Steamship Building) Tebingan Kuching, Gem Box Cultural Market, Nilai Negeri Sembilan and Karyaneka Gallery, Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur.
