Brushstrokes of Impact at Batik Boutique

By Elli Famira | Asia School of Business

As part of the TBN Asia Conference 2025 Impact Trip, we had the opportunity to visit Batik Boutique, a Malaysian social enterprise founded by Amy Blair. What began with a mission to empower one single mother has since grown into an enterprise that provides fair wages, skills training, and sustainable income for artisans and seamstresses across the country. Today, Batik Boutique is known for its handcrafted batik fashion and lifestyle products, as well as its focus on sustainable corporate gifting solutions, particularly after the pandemic. 

Amy welcomed us with her personal story of why she started Batik Boutique and how the business continues to make a difference in local communities. We then experienced an interactive batik painting session led by their in-house artists, where each of us had the chance to try our hand at the craft and even bring home our own batik painting kit. The experience was made even more enjoyable with local delicacies thoughtfully prepared for us, as well as an introduction to the traditional batik-making tools such as the canting. To round off the visit, we explored their beautiful studio in a heritage building at The Row, Kuala Lumpur, and received a discount voucher to shop their products at the boutique downstairs. 

It was an afternoon that combined culture, creativity, and impact, a meaningful reminder of how businesses can drive change while preserving tradition. A big thank you to Batik Boutique for hosting such a memorable and engaging session for the TBN delegates! 

– Elli Famira –