Pengusaha Batik dari Brunei

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim

Ilham dari jiwa seorang pelukis
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Berasal dari Negara Brunei Darussalam, bakat seni lukisnya yang dimilikinya tidak pernah disia-siakan malah digilap sehingga gelaran seorang pelukis kini sudah berubah kepada seorang pengusaha batik terkenal.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim yang mempunyai perusahaan dan mencorak batik dengan hasil kerja tangannya, kini telah berkecimpung lebih 10 tahun dalam industri batik tempatan.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim merupakan salah seorang daripada 11 pengusaha atau pemilik butik batik yang turut serta dalam pameran sempena Malam Amal Anggun Warisan II "Warisan Nusantara" yang diadakan di 1Borneo pada Jumaat lepas.

Batik-batik rekaannya dan perusahaannya juga turut diperagakan di hadapan tetamu kehormat Pengerusi Puspanita Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu, Datin Naimah Haji Hassan yang telah menyempurnakan perasmian pameranitu sambil disaksikan oleh Datuk Bandar Kota Kinabalu, Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim berkata, pada malam kemuncak acara itu, batik rekaan beliau turut diperagakan oleh model-model tempatan.

Lebih 20 jenis batik rekaannya dipamerkan pada pameran itu yang dianggar antara RM500 hingga RM2,000.

Ketika ditemui, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim  memberitahu Brunei terkenal dengan pembuatan batik bercorak seperti bunga kuduk, air moleh dan simpur.

"Namun, lebih mendapat sambutan dan menjadi kegemaran para pelanggannya ialah batik muleh kerana memiliki ukiran fesyen yang tersendiri dan asli.

"Alhamdullah...setakat ini sambutan yang diterima dari Brunei ataupun peminat batik di sini (Sabah) sangat menggalakkan...saya sangat berterima kasih," katanya sambil memberitahu ini merupakan kali ketiga beliau mengadakan pameran batik di negeri di bawah bayu ini.

Namun, jelasnya beliau banyak menerima tempahan daripada penggemar batik dari Sabah yang rata-rata terdiri daripada golongan berjawatan tinggi.

Bercerita sebentar bersama beliau mengenai pembuatan batik hasil ukiran beliau, Zainal berkata bakat seorang pelukis yang dimilikinya digilap menjadi satu punca rezeki.

"Kebolehan saya dalam bidang lukisan memberi saya bakat untuk melukis corak-corak batik.

"Dari situ, saya perkembangkan corak itu menjadi sebuah lukisan batik yang menarik." katanya.

Menurut Zainal yang sudah 10 tahun berkecimpung dalam industri pembuatan batik, memberitahu, terdapat tiga cara membuatan batik samada secara tulis/lukis, batik cop dan batik digital.

"Namun, orang lebih suka dan gemar batik tulis/lukis berbanding dengan batik yang lain kerana memiliki keasliannya tersendiri," katanya.

Ditanya mengenai keistimewaan batik Brunei dengan Malaysia, Zainal berkata, ianya tiada banyak beza kerana berasal dari satu rumpun.

Bagaimanapun, dalam melahirkan sebuah corak batik yang menarik, Zainal gemar menggunakan corak Brunei sebagai corak asas namun menggunakan warna berkonsepkan nusantara dan etnik iaitu campuran antara citarasa Malaysia dan Brunei.

Tidak hairanlah, corak dan lukisan batik dari Brunei ini tidak banyak beza dengan batik Terengganu dan Indonesia kerana turut menyelitkan elemen nusantara.

Dalam pada itu, pameran itu turut disertai oleh pengusaha batik dan butik dari Indonesia dan Filipina mengambil bahagian dalam pameran tiga hari sempena Malam Anggun Warisan II yang akan berakhir hari ini.

http://myzatulakhmajanil.blogspot.com/2009/03/pengusaha-batik-brunei.html

Brunei Batik Maker Plans Europe Foray

THE proprietor of Batek Desamas, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim, has struck a deal with a Philippine-based company to turn his designs into accessory items, such as handbags, for export to the European market.

The venture, which is still in the research and development stage, was developed during a trip arranged by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources two months ago to attend a fair in the Philippines.

Some of the batik products of Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim 

Prototype pieces have already been designed, incorporating Zainal’s batik by a manufacturing company in Cebu.

‘‘Design-wise, Brunei’s batik is one of the best in the industry. Malaysian VIP’s as well as Japanese companies have shown keen interest in the batik I produce,’’ Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim, told The Brunei Times. 

However, due to the lack of facilities for mass production, the pioneer in Brunei’s batik scene said, he was unable to meet the criteria in order to sustain a profitable trade with global partners.

There are plans for Batik Desamas to invest in better infrastructure and facilities to meet demand once the deal with the Philippine firm goes through.

In the meantime, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim,  is teaching a few students on the art of batik making.

Batik Desamas is also using batik on furniture to entice the public to purchase its creations.

‘‘Batik can be commercialised very easily... Right now, we’re injecting batik into furniture pieces (such as) standing lamps and curtains,’’ said Zainal’s student, Amir Hj Sapar, who has helped his guru seek new applications for batik designs.

‘‘Brunei needs to create the industry for batik, but our batik needs to seek its own identity. Our designs must be distinct from that of the Javanese and Malaysian batiks,’’ according to Zainal. 

At present, he said for commercial interests, his batiks are Malaysian-inspired, slightly infused with Bruneian designs such as the air muleh (traditional Brunei design) and Simpur flower. 

By educating the public on the art of batik making, Zainal is hopeful Brunei will be able to create its own distinct motif. This, he said, will make local batik more attractive in the export market.

The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/2007/12/29/brunei_batik_maker_plans_europe_foray

Malaysian Minister's Wife Visits Sumbangsih Mulia SME Complex

Social visit: Datin Seri Sharifah Aziah Syed Zainal Abidin (L), wife of Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, visits one of the shops at Sumbangsih Mulia SME Complex. Picture: Saifulizam/BT

THE spouse of Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Datin Seri Sharifah Aziah Syed Zainal Abidin, yesterday visited the Sumbangsih Mulia at the Beribi Industrial Estate. 

She was accompanied by Sri Norizan Sulaiman, the wife of the secretary general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, and Datin Zakiah Dato Hj Alias, the wife of Malaysia's High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam.

On hand to welcome the group was the Sumbangsih Mulia Building Manager, Pg Kahar Pg Md Salleh.

The $2.5 million complex officially opened its doors to house local entrepreneurs in February this year. The building has a total of 122 shop lots, outside and inside the air-conditioned building. 

Outside, 108 stalls are used to sell food products, 14 lots for fruits and vegetables, and the other 10 lots are occupied by barbecue stalls.

Meanwhile,in the air-conditioned area, 30 lots are provided for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) selling various local products such as Brunei handicrafts and dry food. "So far, 19 out of the 20 slots are occupied at the ground floor. On the first floor, eight businesses had been set up, and there is another two coming soon," said Pg Kahar.

One of the main attractions at the complex was the 'Batik Desa Mas' boutique, owned by a local, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim. 

Zainal Abidin told The Brunei Times that he had started hand-printing batik since 2000. However, it was only during the last two years that he became more active, and so far had produced at least 50 pieces of batik. According to him, the visitors gave him good comments about his products which he took as encouragement. Some of them even bought some batik pieces to take home. 

The visit was part of Datin Sharifah's itinerary during her three-day stay in Brunei. 

The Malaysian minister, Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar, and his entourage were in Brunei to attend the friendly sports game with the Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They are scheduled to leave the country today.

The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/home_news/2007/10/30/malaysian_ministers_wife_visits_sumbangsih_mulia_sme_complex