Mohamad Diah, Nurazzura (2026) Styling identity: transforming batik for a glocal Gen Z world. In: Anchors in the storm: cultural resilience and civilizational identity. Center of Conservation Sustainable Heritage (CaSEH), Melaka, Malaysia, pp. 800-824.
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Abstract
Malaysian batik is undergoing a significant transformation as Generation Z (Gen Z) reinterprets traditional heritage through contemporary fashion practices. This study explores how Gen Z negotiates cultural identity through the styling, wearing, and consumption of batik in a “glocal” context. Drawing on the concept of glocalization, the research examines how Malaysian Gen Z engages with batik not merely as a traditional textile but as a dynamic medium for self-expression, social belonging, and cultural representation. The study employs a qualitative approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews and observation of batik-related content on social media platforms commonly used by Malaysian youth. Findings reveal that Gen Z actively reshapes the meaning of batik by integrating it into everyday and trend-driven fashion styles, thereby distancing it from its conventional association with formal or ceremonial occasions. At the same time, they use batik as a symbolic marker of national and cultural identity, particularly in digital spaces where local heritage is showcased to global audiences.
| Item Type: | Book Chapter |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | batik; cultural identity; Gen Z; glocalization; youth culture |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > HM1176 Social influence. Social pressure H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > HM621 Culture H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > HM831 Social change H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races > HT101 Urban groups. The city. Urban sociology |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Sociology & Anthropology |
| Depositing User: | DR NURAZZURA MOHAMAD DIAH |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Oct 2026 12:09 |
| Last Update: | 19 Oct 2026 10:08 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-10-Q5628 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/131966 |
| Indexed In: | UNSPECIFIED |
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