Earlier this week, it was announced that Malaysian school uniforms would be sprinkled with patriotism by 21st April. Education Director General Azman Adnan stated that our Jalur Gemilang will make an appearance on school uniforms as a 5cm x 2.5cm badge that would be placed on students’ chests in government schools, government-aided schools, matriculation colleges, and teacher training institutes.
Inspired by the push to increase patriotism through school uniforms, netizens took matters into their own hands by creating renders of Jalur Gemilang-themed student uniforms. Two of these designs recently gained significant attention online, with reactions ranging from admiration to strong disapproval.
While both designs are intended for female uniforms, one is a seemingly AI-generated mashup of the national flag incorporated into the apparel. The neural network created a diagonal motif with stripes crossing the shirt and adding flair to the skirt. The sleeves feature sewn-on flag badges and stripes that emphasise the edges, also extending to the collar and belt. It has a clean and sleek design.
The other design takes a more humorous approach, with badges scattered across the blue vest of the uniform. Although some effort was made to create a more symmetrical layout, the overall design is largely neutralised by its jarring dissonance. Some netizens did not hold back in their reactions:
School uniforms are a shared identity that unites students, providing them a sense of togetherness. They also intended to level the social status playing field, where the rich and poor have the same perceived identity. Maybe someday, we will have a distinctive, practical, and unique sense of Malaysian identity built into the school uniforms.
What do you think of the viral designs? Which of the two is your favourite?
Sources: China Press, New Straits Times
Gan contributed to this article.
