The Baba Nyonyas or Peranakan form a rich part of Malaysia’s
multicultural heritage. Comprising early immigrants from China who journeyed to
Southeast Asia between the 14th and 19th centuries and married local women,
they formed a unique hybrid culture which incorporate Chinese and Malay
influence and culture. Being a part of this heritage mainly from my mum's side,
I'm always intrigued by everything Nyonya, from food, items to clothing and
interiors.
Speaking of interior, artisan tiles are the highlight of the
peranakan or Nyonya pattern collection. Usually it exhibits natural patterns in
exclusive designs, perfect for traditional decoration in classic interiors.
These famous Nyonya Tiles capture the essence of heritage architecture and are
ideal for feature walls, bathrooms, bedrooms, stairs, kitchens, dining rooms
and even floors.
I was inspired by the patterns and design of the tiles that
I decided to incorporate them into my scarf design. Mainly hand drawn and
painted with watercolours. These bright coloured tiles were then arranged to
create a repeated pattern suitable for the scarf. The background colour and
design were graphically designed. This pattern comes in two colours - Cream
& Baby Blue.
I chose soft pastel colours for the background of the
scarves mainly to bring out the contrast of the existing brights coloured
Nyonya tiles.
I’m hoping to bring more awareness of this beautiful rich Nyonya
culture in Malaysia by creating these scarves for wearers to appreciate and
showcasing them.
Which of these is your favourite?
