The idea of a collaboration started with Ann Zahid’s search for potential opportunities, and a way to ignite awareness in the younger generation about traditional hand-blocked batik. Ann Zahid is a batik enthusiast, devoted in preserving and promoting the bona fide Malaysian Hand-Blocked Batik via their streetwear and lifestyle products.

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15 year-old Andrea Khadija has been painting as a hobby since she was little. However, due to the pandemic, and the very long opportunity to stay home in the movement restriction order period, she was able to paint more frequently. Andrea then had much time to practice, and polish her skills. A favourite of hers is to paint portraits, growing out of simple doodles and cartoonish proportions to the mature and conspicuous nature they are now.

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When Ann Zahid was looking around among budding artists’ works on Instagram, she found Andrea’s works posted there. She noticed her swift growth expressed in her pieces of art, and felt that there was a story that could be told. Thus, an idea was born to have a collaboration, to promote Andrea’s works as an artist, and as a girl living in confinement in the times of the pandemic. Like Anne Frank who turned to her diaries, so did Andrea and her paintings. 

The joint effort is steadily bearing fruit. Andrea Khadija x Ann Zahid Perjalanan Kita Batik Sneakers Collection blends Andrea’s vibrant designs and Ann Zahid's traditional hand-blocked batik into five one-of-a-kind fabulous sneakers. In Shaa Allah.