Ekram Faiz and Farhan Omar, co-founders of Kapten Batik.
Before Kapten Batik came into the market, you rarely saw people below the age of 40 wearing batik other than at weddings or social events. But walk through hip neighbourhoods such as Mont Kiara, KLCC and Bangsar these days and you can spot people of all ages wearing them as they go about their daily lives.
“We noticed that there was still space for batik in the Malaysian market but we needed to improve the approach to attract new customers,” says co-founder Farhan Omar. “Now we can see people wearing batik everywhere – in cafes, bars and watching sports. And it’s not the older classic designs but the fresh bold and young designs too,” he adds.
Founded in 2017 by Ekram Faiz and Farhan, Kapten Batik brought a fresh spin on both the traditional and classic batik designs. Within eight years after opening a small space in Publika in 2019 – just a few weeks before the pandemic – they’ve elevated batik into a contemporary lens.
A design distinctive of Southeast Asia and in Malaysian states such as Kelantan and Terengganu, batik is a traditional textile art form where wax is used to resist dye, creating intricate patterns on fabric.
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What’s unique about Farhan and Ekram’s story is neither (who are both from mechanical engineering backgrounds) were interested in fashion or had any business background. Tired of their 9-5 jobs, the duo decided to take on a meaningful task.
“We wanted to do something new that could solve Malaysian’s problems, so we thought, why don’t youngsters wear batik?” says Farhan. The two friends did their research and with limited cash joined a bazaar showcasing a small selection of their batik shirts.
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Going against the grain in the beginning certainly paid off for the duo. By approaching malls during the pandemic, they managed to get a lower rental fee and once the MCO measures were lifted, the brand was ready to serve.
After opening their first shop, Kapten Batik today has evolved into 10 boutiques with three more openings this year. While Kapten Batik also runs an online shop, retail is still an important part of the business, says Ekram, “We’re a men’s brand, and men prefer to go to the boutique to try things on,” he explains.
“At Kapten Batik, we focus a lot on the quality of the fabrics, but once our customers have experienced our clothes and apparel, they will continue to purchase them online,” he adds. The founders have set their sights on expanding in the coming year to the overseas market, with Singapore first on their list.
But closer to home, both Farhan and Ekram are keen on reviving the batik art form by giving it a space for people to learn and preserve the traditional art form. “I noticed that the retail scene is now quite packed, so in the next quarter we want to create an experience centre in Medan Pasar,” says Farhan.
Taking some inspiration from Royal Selangor’s Visitor Centre and pewter-making workshops, the space will feature a resident artist who will showcase the batik designs to the public alongside hands-on workshops.
What was once seen as an old-fashioned attire choice of the elder generation, Kapten Batik has proved that it takes a fresh approach, plenty of creativity and a good dose of gumption to turn a misconception into a successful business venture.
