Customers would stop by with fabric in hand for custom-made outfits, including batik pieces that Wong Soo Ha, Wong Soo Mee and Wong Soo Ling would carefully measure, sketch and tailor.
When Chinese New Year came around, they sewed batik outfits for family members, including their niece, Soong Xin-Ee.
Living next door, Soong would often run over whenever customers arrived, quietly watching as her aunts drew sketches for the outfits they were to sew.
But as time passed, life pulled the sisters in different directions. Two got married and had children, shelving the business to focus on raising their families. By 2000, the sewing machines had fallen silent.
Still, Soong never quite forgot those childhood memories. In 2019, she decided to revive Gérson together with her cousins.
“My intention was to help my aunts because they no longer had an income after they stopped running the business. Two of them relied on their husbands for support, but one later lost her husband,” Soong, told FMT Lifestyle.
But reviving Gérson was no walk in the park.
The custom-made batik dresses they launched on Instagram struggled to gain attention. They tried a new tactic, adding the word “Batik” to the brand name so those searching online for batik clothing would discover them easily.
Even then, business was sluggish.
As a last resort, Soong introduced a batik top for casual wear. It was versatile and easy to style – a more approachable way of introducing batik. “That really took off,” Soong, 31, recalled with a smile.
Encouraged by the response, the cousins began expanding their range of designs, watching in delight as their social media followers steadily grew.
“Every time we reached another 100 followers, we would buy pizza and drinks to celebrate together. Never in their wildest dreams did my aunts think anyone would want to follow them,” Soong shared, adding that the business also began attracting customers from abroad.
Today, the business offers a wide variety of batik attire for women, men and children, including dresses, tops, skirts, men’s shirts and accessories.
Their designs are vibrant, stylish and thoughtfully tailored. Behind each piece is a great deal of care and precision.
Soong explained that with batik, the fabric must be cut carefully so the motifs flow seamlessly on the finished piece.
She added that they mainly use Malaysian batik, although they occasionally incorporate Indonesian batik depending on customer preference.
Beyond their online store, customers can also browse Gérson’s collections at their outlets in Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. While ready-made pieces are available at all three locations, custom-made services are also offered at their Subang Jaya outlet.
Indeed, Gérson Batik has come a long way. Today they have a community of over 83,000 followers across Instagram and Facebook – something especially satisfying after years of hard work, including Soong forgoing a salary from the business until last year.
All three aunts remain actively involved, sewing pieces alongside local tailors. Another aunt, Wong Soo Chen, joined the business in 2021, making it an even bigger family effort.
“Customers have told us that our clothing feels like a taste of Malaysia that they want to bring home. When we hear feedback like that, we know we are on the right track,” said Soong.
Indeed, what began as a small home-based business has now found new life through the second generation. For Soong the heart behind the business has never changed.
“I never thought it would come this far, to be honest. But from the beginning until now, my vision has always been to help my aunts,” she concluded.
Learn more about Gérson Batik on its website, Facebook and Instagram. For enquiries, contact 011-1128 8532 or send them a message on Facebook or Instagram.