INTRODUCTION
Organised by Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia, the inaugural Kuala Lumpur International Batik (KLIB) Convention & Exhibition was held in 2005. With speakers from 15 different countries, that Convention was attended by some 500 people from various fields – artists, designers, students, lecturers, people in the batik and handicrafts industry, batik enthusiasts and aficionados. The Exhibition, which had a wide array of batik fashion and products, had some 10,000 visitors.
The Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention (or KLIB Convention 2011) is designed to be aniconic event that showcases the multiple dimensions of Batik – art and craft, technique and technology, marketing and business – to the world.
The conference aims to be a platform to:
- Develop an international network of Batik enthusiasts
- Foster closer ties among batik producing countries
- Create a forum for the batik craft and industry around the world
- Share techniques, innovations technology and marketing strategies for batik craft and industry
- Focus on the long term relevance, growth, progress and prominence of the batik craft and industry internationally.
In essence, the Convention will exemplify the coming together of the traditional and contemporary aesthetics in Batik art and craft, cutting edge technology and market-driven business strategies for the world to view and share.