• The Mandarin term “峇迪” is a transliteration of the Malay term batik. It widely believed that the word batik is related to the Malay word titik, meaning “dot”.
• The art of batik first appeared in Java, Indonesia, but has also appeared in China, Japan, India, Thailand, East Turkestan, Europe and Africa.
• Batik fabric is made by drawing patterns onto white cloth using melted wax. The cloth is then dyed and boiled to remove the melted wax, so as to reveal the finished design.
• Before the 20th century, batik was mainly used for costumes or festivals, such as sarongs, and dodots worn by sultans, brides and grooms. Today, batik is also made into various items, such as wallets, scarves or hats. Batik designs are also a source of inspiration for items such as painting and furniture.
• Batik designs are rich and varied, each with a different meaning. For example, the parang motif represents power, a hen laying eggs represents good luck in business, while a goose represents purity.
• Batik clothing and items can be worn and used by people from all walks of life for various occasions and celebrations. For example, during the 2019 National Day Parade, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wore a red and white shirt with the motif of the Vanda Miss Joaquim that was hand-painted by well-known Singaporean batik artist Sarkasi Said.

Batik was a favourite of mine in the 1980s. Whenever I travelled to Indonesia, I would usually bring back batik shirts as gifts for relatives and friends. (Lianhe Wanbao，27/8/2018)