In the past, Malay women used to wear kain batik lepas (unstitched batik sarong) for both casual home wear and formal occasions.

The Andani Studio founder recently led a workshop on how to wear batik sarongs with confidence and modern flair.

Josephine Komara has redefined a cultural expression that was intricate and lovely but so locked in tradition it bordered on staid. “Tradition is the way we are,” she says. “Modern is the way we think ...

For some, wearing kain batik lepas is considered complicated as it requires time and specific techniques to drape it properly.