LETTERS: Hari Raya has caused an increase in demand for batik attire as families rush to get their festive outfits.
This Raya effect is temporary, so other sustainable sources of demand need to be explored.
The are many reasons for the low demand for batik attire.
One is the availability of cheaper printed batik materials imported from China and Indonesia.
Tourists and locals are concerned only about the cost of batik wear or batik products, and only a few are willing to pay premium prices.
Foreign competition and cost issues are a threat to batik makers.
To increase demand for batik, the government has often promoted it at trade shows, encouraging government officials to wear batik attire, providing short-term loans and even announcing Dec 3 as Malaysian Batik Day.
These public-sector initiatives have helped the batik industry, but help is also needed from the private sector.
A major source of demand for batik is from apparel manufacturing small- and medium-scale industries that use batik as their main fabric for their creations.
These designers have transformed batik wear into modern designs, such as dresses and skirts.
Efforts to boost the batik sector still focus more on traditional batik makers and not so much on apparel manufacturing SMEs.
Policymakers should pay more attention to these SMEs.
Most of these designers obtain their batik material by importing it or by making their own.
So they are not capitalising on batik hubs in Kelantan and Terengganu.
Apart from high cost, another issue with local batik is the lack of design innovation and quality control.
The authorities could set up a communication channel between apparel manufacturing SMEs, batik makers and the government.
This cooperation will boost international demand for our batik.
DEBOSHREE GHOSH
Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times