A COUPLE’S love for batik gave them a reason to get married in 1997, but their love for batik started in their school days in the late 1980s.
Zainal Ariffin Zainuddin, 46, and his wife, Narihas Abdul Rahman, 49, both teachers, have a collection of 200 batik attire, excluding the nearly 100 they gave to friends and donated to the needy over the years.
“Before we started teaching in 1994, we were already crazy about batik, but we used to shop for our favourite batik separately,” said Zainal, who used to wear batik as a student at SM Sains Dungun.
He said the school encouraged students to wear batik uniform every weekend before returning home as a way to show the school’s identity.
He said when he studied at Institut Perguruan Ilmu Khas in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, he supplied batik to the students’ representative body until he graduated.
“Before Narihas and I got married in 1997, we would shop for batik together. Our favourite outlet was and still is Noor
Arfa Batik,” said Zainal, who teaches at SMK Dato’ Haji Mohamad Said in Jeram, Manir.
He said he preferred batik printed on cotton because the motifs stood out more and looked exclusive, adding that they were cheaper than batik printed on silk.
“My wife wears batik daily, but I am allowed to wear batik only on Thursday and at special functions. She has about 150 dresses and I have about 50 shirts. Her most expensive attire is RM1,900.
“We love batik because of its quality and unique designs. No two items look the same. The fact that a quality design does not fade easily makes some batik collector’s items.
“Batik motifs tell a story. They cannot be copied easily unless the designs are photographed and passed to another designer,” he said at his house in Tok Jembal.
Narihas said batik sarong could become a family heirloom passed down for generations and used for special occasions like weddings.
“There is something about batik that I cannot explain. I know each motif is handmade with love. Only connoisseurs of batik will understand. It is like appreciating a painting by Picasso, but laymen cannot comprehend its value.
“My most expensive batik on satin silk costs RM1,900. Because I paid for quality, it is still as good as new even though I’ve worn it many times. My cheapest batik costs about RM300.
“I wear batik daily to school and have no qualms about buying more,” said Narihas, who teaches at SK Sultan Sulaiman II in Kuala Terengganu and likes to shop with her husband at Noor Arfa Batik.
She added that batik could be worn in schools to project the school’s identity and at the workplace as a corporate uniform.
“I feel exclusive when I wear the batik dresses in my collection. If we don’t support our batik industry, who else will?