BACHOK: Kelantan batik clothing, with motifs of the "ketam guri" and "telang" flowers which are synonymous with the state of Cik Siti Wan Kembang, is always in demand by fans of batik-based handicraft products.
Apart from clothing, there are also other batik-based handicrafts such as neckties and tablecloths.
In view of the huge potential of handicraft products, 15 women from villages in Jelawat and Gunong, here, got together to think of a way of earning an income and they decided on producing bags with Kelantan batik motifs, which they named "Ngesong".
The project manager, Rozana Mat Radzi, 44, said they started producing the "Ngesong" bags during the Movement Control Order (MCO) as an alternative source of income.
"For a start, we carried out the project under the community skills programme of the Kelantan branch Kraftangan Malaysia which provided us with the necessary assistance, such as bag design, training and raw materials," she told Bernama when met at their workshop in Kampung Bukit Chenda, Gunong here recently.
She said the group comprised 10 seamstresses and five others, who are responsible for managing the products, including packaging.
When asked the meaning of "Ngesong", she said it was from the word "song", which in the Kelantan dialect means "matching".
"In Gunong and Jelawat, the word, 'song' or 'ngesong' has the same meaning, so we chose ngesong as the brand for our handicraft product," she said.
Rozana said the "Ngesong" bags come in various sizes and for various occasions and uses, such as coin bags, pouches, tote bags, file bags, laptop bags and shopping bags, with the price ranging from RM3 to RM95 depending on the type and size.
She said the batik material used to produce the bags is supplied by batik entrepreneurs in Kelantan.
"Normally, when we get orders for bags, we will discuss with the Kraftangan people regarding the supply of the batik material," she added.
According to Rozana, the "Ngesong" bags are now produced based on orders.
"When we get the order, members of the group will get together at the workshop to do their respective tasks such as cutting the batik, glueing and sewing," she said.
A member of the group, Nor Elina Mat Daud, 40, who is a seamstress, said she was now able to earn extra income by helping to sew the bags.
"Alhamdulillah, I am able to earn more now. I have got money to spend for myself and also able to help my husband," she added. – BERNAMA