Malai Flowers: Creative Designs Keep Tradition Alive

By Atira Khalisha Nor Adnan

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- The mere mention of malai flowers, synonymous with the Indian community, often evokes images of fragrant, vibrant blooms intricately woven into round garlands for ceremonial use.

Recently, malai garlands have evolved beyond their traditional form, featuring modern and creative designs crafted by artisans. These innovations have broadened their appeal, making them a popular gift choice for special occasions and birthdays across diverse communities.

Notably, malai garlands went viral on social media as a unique and affordable alternative to traditional bouquets for graduation ceremonies. This distinctive choice has become a popular way to celebrate loved ones on their special day.

Reflecting this trend, florist T. Jeysri, 30, said more people now recognise malai garlands as symbols of appreciation, gratitude, or pride in someone’s achievements, rather than being exclusively associated with worship.

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It's no wonder her five-year-old business has thrived, attracting high demand from diverse communities, especially the younger generation, for her unique and creative approach to malai flower garlands.

“To keep malai flowers relevant, I must always be creative in crafting garlands that appeal to the younger generation. This includes transforming them into table decorations or hair accessories.

“I offer customers a variety of attractive designs that follow current trends. As a result, my shop continually adapts the styles of garlands to meet customer preferences,” she told Bernama.

Jeysri said malai flowers not only enhance the aura of the wearer but also add charm to any event. She noted that the choice of flowers is not limited, with customers able to select from more than 11 types of flowers, including roses and lilies, to create their garlands.

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This uniqueness has ensured a steady stream of orders from customers for various events and purposes. Demand typically doubles during festive seasons.

"Every day, people place orders for these flowers, but during festivals, the number increases to as many as 1,000 units compared to regular days. For instance, Malay customers often buy malai flowers here to use for flower baths," she shared.

“For weddings, customers usually prefer fragrant flowers like baby’s breath or those symbolising sweetness for the couple, such as rose petals,” said Jeysri, whose malai garlands are priced from as low as RM7 to hundreds of ringgit, depending on the size.

Similarly, Selva Rani, 63, has infused freshness into her malai flower creations, a strategy that has sustained her business for 15 years amid numerous florists in Brickfields.

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Beyond traditional garlands, Selva has diversified her offerings by crafting malai as wrist accessories instead of the usual neckwear.

“There’s no fixed rule on the type or number of flowers used for each garland. It can be made from just one type of flower if desired. Customers are welcome to share their ideas, and the unique feature of my shop is malai flower designs for the wrist,” she explained.

While it might seem simple to assemble the garlands, S. Tulasi, 38, shared that weaving and tying various flowers is a meticulous process requiring patience and precision.

“For a standard two-foot garland, it takes about 20 minutes, and larger ones can take up to an hour. It may sound easy, but if the flowers are arranged incorrectly by colour or size, we have to undo the raffia string and start over, which takes more time.

“Additionally, damaged flowers must be replaced, and the garlands are sprayed with water every 15 to 30 minutes to maintain freshness. Although challenging, I am passionate about this craft and committed to continuing my family’s malai flower business as a legacy,” Tulasi said.

 -- BERNAMA