Jadi Batek Gallery

Jadi Batek Gallery is a large batik and handicraft centre in Kuala Lumpur. It is well established (since 1976) as a popular KL tourist shopping attraction.

Batik items on sale here include lengths of batik dress-making material, ready-to-wear apparel such as dresses, blouses, scarves, pareos, kaftans, men’s shirts, children’s clothing, tablecloths, coasters, wall hangings and other batik artworks.

In Malaysia, leaves and flowers are the most popular motifs for batik but fish and animal designs are also created, especially for the tourist market.

Other handicraft products include T-shirts, pewter-ware, spa products, hand-made soaps from Langkawi, ornaments, herbal teas, durian coffee, mounted butterflies and insects, wood carvings from Borneo, masks from Indonesia, hand-made bags and baskets, jewellery and Malaysian souvenirs.

Watch Batik Artists

Jadi Batek has a small team of talented batik artists who are all Malaysians. It is impressive to see the ease with which they create their beautiful works of art. This gallery is helping to protect Malaysia’s heritage by providing opportunities for these artisans to earn a living from this age old handicraft.

Types of Batik

There are two main techniques for Batik making in Malaysia:

Hand Drawn where the artist draws the outlines of the design directly onto the fabric using a strange looking pen device called a canting which contains hot liquid wax. Then the outlines are filled in with different coloured dyes using a brush.
Block Printed method uses a wooden or copper stamp on which the design has already been stencilled, dipping this in molten wax and stamping it multiple times on the fabric to create a pattern. The fabric is then dipped in dye, one or more times depending on the number of colours required, and the wax removed.

Create Your Own Batik

Classes can be arranged for visitors to learn the basics then try out their own skills and take home a piece of batik art as a memory of the trip.

The costs of the lessons, which includes all the materials and tools required, are as follows:

Size

20 x 20 cm Small

30 x 40 cm Standard

90 x 90 cm Scarf

90 x 200 cm Pareo

T-Shirt

Cotton

RM 30

RM 50

RM 90

RM 150

RM 80

Silk

RM 80

RM 120

RM 200

Time

< 60 mins

60 mins

90 mins

120 mins

60 mins

It is best to book your lesson in advance to avoid disappointment. See contact details below for bookings.

Corporate team building events and other special occasions can also be arranged.

Opening Hours

Open daily from 9 am to 5.30 pm.

Admission

There is no charge for watching the batik artists at work and no obligation to buy anything

Review Verdict

This a large gallery and a good place to shop for all kinds of Malaysian and Southeast Asian handicraft and souvenir products all under one roof. What makes it special is the ability to see skilled batik artists at work and to try your hand at making your own masterpieces.