THE recent movement control order (MCO) has forced this Lunar New Year to deviate from tradition.
Reunion dinners have been limited, gates are closed for open houses and Lion Dances are silenced.
But while some traditions have been curtailed, others have adapted with the times even before the pandemic.
Gerson Batik, run by Soong Xin-Ee and her cousins, has been tailoring qipao – a close-fitting dress originating in 1920s Shanghai – inspired clothing using Malaysian traditional batik cloth.

Growing up wearing her aunt’s personally tailored batik clothes, Soong was inspired to spread the love of batik to the world.
Tailoring custom-made batik clothing since 2018, the team behind Gerson batik is not limited to Soong and her cousins, but also include their aunts.
When it comes to incorporating the traditional aspect of a qipao with a modern flair to each of their creation, Soong works closely with her aunt.
“My aunt and I are the masterminds behind it all. Having constant discussions allow us to come up with the traditional yet modern twist in each design,” shared Soong.
Creating Chinese New Year (CNY) inspired pieces since 2019, Gerson Batik is still able to come up with a more fresh and modern CNY collection this year.


For Gerson Batik, every piece of fabric conjures different feelings, driving them to constantly be in search of new and unique fabrics.
With their vision of tailoring unique batik pieces for every customer, this means that every piece is one of a kind in the world – especially for you.
The recent MCO may be a hindrance to this Lunar New Year, but business for Gerson Batik has not been affected.
While many may not be able to showcase their #ootd, customers are still flooding in to grab their one-of-a-kind batik clothing.
“The MCO did not affect our business – we are expanding. We are grateful that customers are still supporting local businesses like us. And we truly appreciate each customer for being so patient with us.” – The Vibes, February 12, 2021