Rosmah Wants You To Wear This Every Thursday. Will You?
The First Lady of Malaysia said this move could help increase the sales and demand for batik.
By Tang Ruxyn — 26 Feb 2016, 11:18 AM — Updated over 8 years ago
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has urged all companies to encourage their employees to wear batik on Thursdays to create more demand for the industry
Rosmah Mansor during the official launching of National Crafts Day at Kompleks Kraf. Looking on is Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and Puteri Umno chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
Image via Zulkifli Ersal/The Sun DailyThe Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said currently, only government officers were encouraged to wear batik every Thursday.
"In a continuous effort to promote the batik industry, it is important that we 'create the demand' for it."
"To this end, I call upon all government-linked companies and the private sector to also urge their staff to wear batik on the same day of the week (Thursday)," she said at the launch of the National Crafts Day 2016 at the Craft Complex here today.
She added that she herself had taken the initiative to promote batik and songket in iconic fashion cities, including the World Expo in Milan last year
PM Najib Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor visiting Malaysia Pavillion during Malaysia Food Festival at Expo Milano 2015.
Image via BERNAMA“Last year, in conjunction with Milano World Expo, a runway show was held to showcase the uniqueness and beauty of batik and songket."
“The event was attended by famous designers, fashion editors and those involved in the fashion industry,” she said, adding that the event had generated “huge success”.
Rosmah last year opened the Milano World Expo held at the fashion city. Some 17 Malaysian designers took part in the five-day event.
malaysiakini.com
This isn't the first time Rosmah has showed her concern for the batik industry in Malaysia. Back in 2014, she urged Malaysian batik designers to be more creative and fashionable when officiating the launch of the 2014 National Craft Day.
“I am a loyal fan of the local batik industry, but sometimes the batik designs (that I come across) produced by local craftsmen are too outdated and garish,” said Rosmah.
She said that she liked to present local batik as gifts to foreign dignitaries and their wives, but often had to specify the designs that she wanted.
Rosmah said local craftsmen and producers must collaborate with international designers to bring Malaysian batik and songket into the global fashion consciousness.
“Malaysian batik and songket are of high quality. So we should be able to infiltrate the global market if we are good at promoting our crafts.”
therakyatpost.com