What is Batik Design Contest SG?

​​The Batik Design Contest SG is design contest that aims at discovering Batik Designs that reflect what’s unique about Singapore. Batik was chosen as the medium of expression because Batik has a rich history in telling stories of the places it comes from. We are proud of our Singapore Airlines uniform designed by Pierre Balmain and now we hope you can be  the next designer who can bring new designs for us to wear.

​

Clarifying the Contest Process

Our submission guidelines require all entries to reflect batik techniques as winning designs will be translated into authentic batik creations. All other promising designs will be exhibited at our public exhibition. As this is an inclusive platform,  we are also inviting traditional batik artisans, new design voices, heritage keepers and enthusiasts  to exhibit their handmade creations and or collections, see exhibition details below:

Public showcase at ION Art, Gallery - 18–28 September 2025.

1.This Is a Batik-Inspired Design Competition, the designs can be digital or traditional.

Batik artisans and heritage keepers are welcome. Our upcoming Ion Art Exhibition will include both digital design entries and original hand-drawn and handmade batik pieces. We want to celebrate the craft and those who continue it. We are looking for submissions with motif development, repetition, batik-inspired layouts, or culturally grounded symbolism. More details on our contest guidelines can be obtained from our website.

2.⁠ ⁠Design with Respect and Identity. We are not experts, we are here to discover the Singaporean DNA through this contest. We ask participants to approach their designs with curiosity, humility, and cultural respect. This journey is about exploring the stories batik can tell in a Singaporean context, not replacing tradition, but expanding it.

3.⁠ ⁠Design Inspiration Comes from Our Everyday Surroundings. From HDB blocks to hawker stalls to tropical plants, this is our shared canvas. Let Singapore’s textures, shapes, and memories influence your design language, the way batik has always drawn from life.

4.⁠ ⁠Inclusion in a common space. This contest has been created to unite generations, communities, and creative voices. Everybody is welcome and all nationalities are welcome to share their interpretation of what our batik can look like. This is because Singapore is a melting pot of various cultures and nationalities.

5.⁠ ⁠Why Not a Singapore Batik? Batik is a technique. A language. A heritage. And it evolves. Batik originating from Indonesia, is practiced across many cultures from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Africa, and beyond. We believe Singapore can build its own batik identity, rooted in our multicultural landscape and forward-looking imagination.

Batik is personal, cultural, and deeply valued and we honour that. Batik is part of our regional identity, and for many Singaporeans who have grown up in Southeast Asia, it is woven into our cultural experience. We believe it is entirely valid for Singaporeans and those who live here to imagine, design, and contribute to a uniquely Singaporean batik language.

As this is the first competition of its kind, we see it as a discovery process and we hope it inspires people to explore batik’s heritage, learn its techniques, and connect with the broader batik community across the region. We welcome everyone to be part of this evolving journey.

​

​