Contemporary Hand-painted Batiks

Earlier on I posted photos of some block-printed and multi-waxed-dyed traditional Malaysian batiks on cotton. Here are some hand painted ones on silk, exclusively from the workshop of my dear friend Kartini Illias (they are my shirts actually!) of iKARRTINi Batiks. http://www.ikarrtini.com/

Kartini has been in the batik business for some 15 years and owns a ladies boutique and a men’s shop of only silk wares in the 5-star shopping complex the Suria KLCC under Kuala Lumpur ’s famous Petronas Twin Towers. She has also recently opened another outlet in the posh new Tang’s Pavilion at Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Kartini has one the years dressed many local dignitaries and visiting world leaders, personalities and luminaries (including Hollywood ’s Mel Gibson) with her batiks.

In June last year I invited Kartini to do two batik fashion show here and it was a runaway success with some 400 guests attending the shows. The beautiful summer weather on that day wonderfully complemented her clothes on parade.

I subsequently recommended her to my colleague in New Delhi and in late November she did a show in New Delhi and Mumbai each. Weeks before that she did successful shows in Beijing and Shanghai .
I wish you more and greater success in the coming years Kartini dear.

Note 22/2/2009: I have just been informed that next week Kartini's batiks, together with a few renowned Malaysian products will be launched in London's HARRODS and will henceforth be available in that landmark departmental store. Congratulations Kartini!

See video : http://youtu.be/HWOCV6_Okr8