Viral Singapore Airlines-style crop top shows off wonders of batik, plus 6 Southeast Asian brands giving the craft a fresh spin
- Makerly SG’s crop top is made with a print similar to the one used for the airline’s signature sarong kebaya uniform
- Other designers including Amanda Hartanto in Indonesia and Fern Chua in Malaysia have been reinventing the way people think about batik
Like most people around the world, Singaporeans have had to put their travel plans on hold over the last year because of the global pandemic. But while locals were unable to fly on Singapore Airlines as frequently as they would have liked, some wore their love for the national airline on their sleeves – literally.
Local company Makerly SG, which tailors small-batch orders of handmade batik clothing, has been making a splash with its crop top made with a similar print as the one used in the airline crew’s signature sarong kebaya uniform.
The refashioned top, which was launched to commemorate Singapore’s National Day in 2019, has since become an Instagram hit. It was spotted on popular content creator Alyne Tamir, the girlfriend of video blogger Nuseir Yassin aka Nas Daily, while a different version of the top was also seen on sports shooter Martina Veloso, a recipient of Singapore’s Sportsgirl of the Year award.
This year, the crop top and the other pieces in Makerly SG’s Singapore Series that offer a modern spin on the sarong kebaya have become some of the brand’s bestsellers, comprising about 40 per cent of its orders.
“The iconic kebaya batik print resonates with many of us who are familiar with the iconic Singapore Airline outfit donned by the svelte cabin crew,” founder Ruth Lum says. “They are great additions to the wardrobe for fuss-free days, and they also make great gifts to friends and family as souvenirs from Singapore. We have previously sent orders out to Singaporeans living abroad in Australia, Germany, Norway and more.”
