Dear white people, our baju kurung DOESN’T NEED SAVING | A message to Lisette of Nala Design
Hi all!
So I’m making this video because I’m genuinely super angry about this post. I’m not sure why it’d triggering me so much but I just had to get it off my chest and call this shit out.
I’m angry that the tone behind this interview is so condescending, so entitled, and very much a representation of someone wanting to be the white savior of Malaysian culture.
I’m not invalidating Lisette and the fact that she probably worked hard to build Nala Design up. I also don’t want to invalidate the fact that she probably does really love Malaysia and Malaysian culture. But I do want her to be more self-aware because CLEARLY she’s living in a bubble of privilege and lacks understanding of how Malaysia is, despite having lived here and in Singapore for so long with her family.
A few issues I have about this article that I want to address:
1) The fact that you said “My dream is to see the baju kurung return, to see Malays dressing beautifully again”, how insulting can you be? Do you think that you’re some sort of baju kurung martyr in something? The audacity to say you want to see Malays “dress beautifully again” like we never did in the first place? With our amazing baju kurungs that we have been wearing for decades??? And who are you to think that you have SAVE baju kurungs? Like some kind of crusader of Southeast Asian culture? If you took 2 minutes to step out of your very expat bubble, you would see literally thousands of Malaysians wearing baju kurungs EVERY DAY. For school, work, at the market, special occasions … who said baju kurungs left?! I don’t get it.
2) Let’s be real. You are culturally appropriating our Malaysian traditional clothing for your own benefit. You’re literally using traditional Malaysian shapes, be it the baju kurung or the cheongsam, to bring yourself and your brand profit. You’re using our resources for your own good. And you didn’t even once say that you were influenced by any of it? Instead, you want to be the SAVIOUR of baju kurung? You said that you have “a close affinity with local culture” and yet in this whole article, you not once said you actually assimilated to Malaysian culture. Our traditional clothing isn’t an aesthetic you should capitalize off and make your own. IT DOESN’T BELONG TO YOU.
3) It’s ironic how you complain about Malaysians being so commercialized and that everyone is doing what they do just to “get a quick buck”, but in reality, you’re doing the exact same thing. Contributing to the commercialization and gentrification of Malaysia by selling kaftans for RM500 a pop. Not to mention your napkins which are RM75 and pillowcases of RM150. Are you lacking that much self-awareness that you really think you’re doing something revolutionary here? By opening stores in the most expat congested areas of Malaysia and calling it a crusade to restore Malaysian traditional clothing?
4) It’s clear to me that your understanding of Malaysians is flawed because you don’t seem to realise how people who live in have it hard. The kampung lifestyle isn’t something you can use as your ~aesthetic~. It’s a way of LIVING and during this day and age, it’s hard to live in a kampung when they struggle with lack of electricity, infrastructure, water … every year they struggle with FLOODS.
This article is so tone-deaf and so disconnected from the reality of Malaysia and how Malaysians live. It’s a bad representation of the preservation of Malaysian traditions, especially when it comes to Malaysian traditional clothing. Clearly, this article was catered to international audiences, so that Lisette can seem like the white savior, living in Malaysia and making a difference with her RM75 napkins.
On this note, I’d like to end this video with a few links to some amazing designers and brands in Malaysia that sell affordable or high-end baju kurungs. Links in the description box. Support local!
PEACE.
Read the condescending article here:
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3117753/shocked-kuala-lumpurs-commercialisation-designer
Local designers and artist:
► By Kunang Kunang: https://www.instagram.com/bykunangkunang/
► Parca MY: https://www.instagram.com/parcacommy/
► Novak Batik: https://www.instagram.com/novakbatik/
► Gérson Custom-Made Batik: https://www.instagram.com/gerson_batik/
► Jovian Mandagie: https://www.instagram.com/jmandagie/
► Sueka Sueka: https://www.instagram.com/suekasueka/
► Summer Shop MY: https://www.instagram.com/summershopmy/
► Thea KL: https://www.instagram.com/thea.kl/
► Huey SY Bags: https://www.instagram.com/hueysybags/
✨ LET’S CONNECT✨
► Website: https://jomwithsamad.com/
► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jomwithsamad/
► Business email: jomwithsamad@gmail.com