From hobby to global recognition: The rise of Sue's collection eco-print Batik in Langkawi

LANGKAWI – Who would have thought that a hobby shared by three siblings to fill their free time during the Covid-19 pandemic would now become a source of income, enabling them to make a name in the eco-print batik industry?

Batik entrepreneur Suraizam Saad, 50, said that she — along with her twin sisters, Suhaila and Suraini, 41 — ventured into the art of eco-printing or creative imprinting techniques “just for fun” in 2019.

However, she noted that their leaf-printed batik products, created using natural materials, particularly leaves, under the brand Sue’s Collection Langkawi, have now attracted the attention of both local and international tourists.

“We learned the eco-printing technique through distance learning classes with experts from Indonesia and Thailand before gradually stepping into producing various craft batik products using more environmentally-friendly techniques.

“What makes it more special is that we use natural plants found in Langkawi,” she told Sinar Harian during an interview at the Langkawi Craft Complex recently.

Suraizam said that she and her siblings collected fallen leaves without disturbing or cutting the lush green trees on the legendary island.

She mentioned that although there are various types of batik products sold on Langkawi Island, what sets them apart is their eco-print batik, which uses 100 per cent curated leaves such as teak leaves, lanang leaves, castor leaves, and jarak leaves.

“We use teak leaves the most, as they are easily available around the island, making it a signature feature of our eco-print batik,” she said.

According to Suraizam, they also use natural materials such as jackfruit bark and turmeric as dyes, making the products safe to wear for all ages.

She added that they use alum and tanjung powder sourced from Indonesia to preserve the leaf patterns on the fabric.

Complex Process

Suraizam explained that the process of producing eco-print batik is quite intricate, involving the arrangement of leaves on the fabric, followed by rolling and tightly tying the fabric before steaming it for two to three hours.

She stated that the processed leaves are not discarded but are instead turned into compost fertiliser to sustain and preserve the ecosystem on the tourist island.

Suraizam noted that to date, Sue’s Collection Langkawi has created over 200 types of products, including scarves, clothing, bags, and more, with prices ranging from RM10 to RM800 depending on the size and type of product.

“Some people think eco-print batik is expensive, but the truth is that its production process is very complex and can take up to 15 days for each product,” she said.

She explained that they continuously conduct research to create trendy products that align with the current times and market demand.

Growing Popularity

She shared that more than 1,000 units of various leaf-printed batik products are sold monthly at the Langkawi Craft Complex in Bohor.

Suraizam mentioned that their leaf-printed batik products, made using the eco-print technique, have started to win the hearts of both domestic and international tourists, despite it being a relatively new technique.

She further shared that they once received a large order from tourists aboard a cruise ship in Langkawi.

“One reason eco-print batik is gaining popularity is its eco-friendly technique that does not use chemicals, in addition to its uniqueness,” she said.

Moreover, their business has now expanded, with their products successfully marketed online to other countries such as Singapore, Australia, and the Netherlands.