My Favorite Sarongs
These are the sarongs I get giddy about. Sometimes it's a coup de foudre, immediately I know. Sometimes it's a design that grows on me when I get back to Awi's and, after showering and a cold drink, have the chance to spread out my finds. A few times, true appreciation comes a couple years later when I get bored with more trendy styles. Whenever it happens, why ever it happens, these are the sarongs that delight and motivate me.
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On the left, Haji Wan Ismail seems to be channelling the late, great S.Z.A.B.A.R. Next to it, the Batik Trengganu needs to be unfolded to fully appreciate. The simple flower design on the right was bought in a shop in Kg Cina.
After taking a break in 2006 to go to Cambodia (and seeing Malaysian batik in the market there!), I managed to find this delightful Kamis (left), some classic Wan Azhars (middle) and a lovely Safinor (right) in 2007.
A very good year. The two on the right, from Wan Azhar, are my two All Time Favorite batiks. The bronze color has to be seen to be believed, it practically glows.
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My favorite nostalgic Safinor on the left, two contemporary designs probably destined for KL in the middle, and a suitably earth-toned pattern on the right.
The "smudgy" blue one in the left is an example of getting it right, even when you are doing it wrong. Two restrained Wan Azhar sarongs, middle and right.
I was very excited to see this new non-pastel direction by Wan Azhar (center, right); they remind me of bandannas. The Haji Wan Ismail on the left has a sort of awesome awfulness.
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An unexciting year which sadly featured the end of Julia (2nd from left and far right) and Hazwani (middle), as well as the customary excellent work by Wan Azhar (left) and Haji Wan Ismail (2nd from right).
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A selection that illustrates my batik preferences: strong delineation (left), pleasing color choice (right) and/or intriguing pattern (center).
The Hazwani on the left is a batik that I appreciate more today for its lively, swirly pattern than when I originally bought it. The next one and the red one are great graphics. The blue one is a nice soft blue.
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This is the head and body of one sarong and exemplifies the incredible designs by S.Z.A.B.A.R.
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The trio on the left became my luckiest score, all in one day at the border. The black and brown batik on the right represents the glory that was S.Z.A.B.A.R.
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This was also the year I fell in love with Safinor (left, middle). The Haszwani on the right, I came to appreciate years later, as the uber-batik chop.
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On the left, a very elegant satu lapis from Haji Wan Ismail and a whimsical ribbon motif from the same batiker in the center. A simple Wan Azhar discharge batik on the right.
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A slew of batik from the first year I seriously started buying. The color teal and large floral designs were popular. On the right, a tropical bright made popular by the Kraftangan students.