Mention linut, and most Sabahans and Sarawakians will realize it as a starchy substance that’s sometimes loved with sambal or different dishes. But in the previous couple of years, linut, produced from sago flour combined with sizzling water, has gained reputation as a resist in batik-making.
Five years in the past, Mukah-based businesswoman Diana Rose found an modern technique the place linut is utilised because the resist medium, as a substitute of candle wax.
By selling batik linut with conventional Sarawakian designs, Diana needs to showcase Malaysia’s wealthy cultural heritage to the world. Photo: The Star/Zulazhar Sheblee“The thought was mooted in 2019 when Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia Sarawak) director Azran Arip proposed to begin a brand new batik neighborhood in Sarawak and I enthusiastically took up the problem.
“Initially, the thought was to make use of tapioca starch because the resist medium, nevertheless it didn’t ignite my ardour. Instead, I made a decision to give attention to linut, a dish produced from sago flour derived from the sago palm. This crop is a crucial staple in Sarawak and holds a deep connection to our cultural roots. Linut serves as a terrific resist in textile design. That was how batik linut was born,” says Diana, 59, throughout a Zoom interview from Mukah, a coastal city in central Sarawak, lately.
Linut, together with strategies like clay and ecoprints, presents a substitute for conventional batik manufacturing strategies that don’t contain using candle wax.
Diana is proud that she has pioneered this new technique, leveraging Sarawak’s standing as a serious sago producer. According to her, it’s a technique to protect and promote Sarawak’s various heritage.
“Linut supplies a high-quality binding, turning into sticky like wax when it dries, which prevents any color from penetrating.
“Another benefit of linut is that it is a meals product, making it biodegradable and extra environmentally pleasant. We are experimenting with pure dyes like turmeric, indigo and dragon fruit to make our batik linut absolutely natural, from the sago base to the colouring,” she explains.
Batik linut stands out as a particular class inside the Malaysian batik scene.
Fresh tackle batik
A former information journalist with The Star, Diana takes nice pleasure in her Melanau heritage and is dedicated to preserving it for future generations. By selling batik linut with conventional Sarawakian designs, she needs to showcase Malaysia’s wealthy cultural heritage to the world.
Linut is a meals product, so it is biodegradable.
Diana has labored in The Star’s head workplace in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and bureau workplaces in Kuching and Miri, Sarawak. She left her writing profession in 2010, after practically twenty years, to take care of her ageing mom and run a cultural homestay, Lamin Dana Cultural Lodge, in Mukah.
“Our batik designs spotlight Sarawakian and Melanau tradition, incorporating components like Orang Ulu fern curls, bunga melor and different conventional motifs. We use sago-related fruits, palm leaves, Melanau headgear and terendak (the conical hat form of the Melanau neighborhood) designs, whereas additionally integrating Iban patterns to create a really Sarawakian tapestry.
“Batik linut is not only a Melanau custom; it is Sarawak’s first batik. While now we have wealthy traditions in weaving and songket, batik linut is a contemporary addition,” says Diana, who has labored with the late Sarawak designer Abdul Latif Mohti to provide you with enticing motifs for his or her linut batik materials, and ready-to-wear attire for women and men.
Diana trying snug in a batik linut apron, headwrap and T-shirt.
Diana chalked up one among her largest milestones when batik linut obtained the Malaysia Tourism Council’s gold award for batik and craft in 2022.
She operates her batik enterprise, with the help from Kraftangan Malaysia, from Kampung Telian Tengah in Mukah as a result of it presents a year-round abundance of sago.
Linut supplies a high-quality binding that dries to a waxy, non-penetrable end.The jovial lady employs eight girls, together with homemakers, senior residents and widows.
“For lots of them, working this enterprise and creating batik is a brand new expertise and presents a contemporary perspective. Some workers members are notably excited concerning the alternative, because it not solely supplies them with an opportunity to earn an earnings but in addition permits them to have interaction in a significant and fulfilling exercise,” says Diana, who has a 16-year-old daughter.
She has additionally organised workshops to have interaction extra youth in making batik linut. So far, she’s skilled 30 villagers between the ages of 18 and 24.
“The response has been optimistic. Many see batik linut as a possibility to earn an earnings whereas serving to to protect Sarawakian tradition. Batik linut is a brand new idea, and lots of younger persons are desperate to discover this distinctive type of batik.
“We’ve additionally had college graduates and interns come to Kampung Telian Tengah for coaching on batik linut manufacturing. For a challenge like this to be sustainable, I imagine ardour and dedication are important.”
The approach ahead
Batik linut has been in the marketplace since 2021 and has been featured on the 2023 Sarawak Craft Fashion Show in Kuching, in addition to commerce exhibits in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.
It has come a good distance, although Diana acknowledges that perfecting the method concerned overcoming some setbacks.
The first problem was attaining the best consistency of the sago combination to be used as a resist in batik manufacturing. If the linut is simply too watery or too sticky, it will possibly negatively affect the colouring course of.
Batik linut is a contemporary addition to Sarawak’s conventional crafts.Second, it was the problem of discovering the best materials fitted to utilizing linut as a wax resist. Not all materials had been suitable, and it took in depth testing to find out which supplies would work greatest with the linut resist for optimum outcomes.
“Despite these challenges, we remained persistent and continued our experiments. It took two years of trial and error, however by the top of 2021, we efficiently tailored the approach to cotton poplin, viscose, silk and chiffon.
“Because it’s made utilizing sago, you can’t get the intense colors like different batik. Most of the shades are pastel. I’d wish to assume that batik linut is like Sarawakians the place we’re blissful, vibrant and never too loud,” Diana says, laughing.
While batik linut is taken into account the latest addition to Malaysian batik, it has garnered a optimistic response since its introduction, says Diana.
Notably, it has caught the eye of the Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and his spouse, Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who’re followers of this modern batik type. Among the strategies utilized in batik linut are hand-drawn (batik tulis) and silk display.
Diana’s plan is to make batik linut extra reasonably priced for various layers of society.“The plan is to introduce merchandise throughout three classes: high-end silk designs, mid-market choices like cartoon-themed materials, and reasonably priced T-shirts. This strategy goals to cater to a broad viewers, with worth factors starting from RM90 to RM1,000, making certain everybody has the prospect to expertise and admire batik linut.”
Diana admits that selling batik linut in a aggressive market, particularly with established batik traditions from Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang, does current some considerations.
“But this competitors is seen as a possibility reasonably than a hurdle. The presence of those conventional batiks supplies a contemporary perspective and positions batik linut as a novel various. It stands out as a particular class inside the Malaysian batik scene, showcasing its personal particular qualities and improvements.
“Batik linut has numerous potential as we’re the pioneer batik makers in Sarawak. Our merchandise are being exhibited on the Sarawak Trade and Tourism workplace in Singapore, and shortly, will probably be on the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Brunei in Bandar Seri Begawan. The future appears vibrant for batik linut,” she concludes.
