ANN/THE STAR – As Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities approaches, many people will be taking stock of their nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends to determine the quantity of sampul raya – money packets – they’ll need to prepare beforehand.
If you’re looking to add a distinctive touch this Hari Raya (or hoping to make a lasting impression on a certain relative), consider opting for a modern sampul raya designed by an artist, as this year has seen a surge in more creative designs.
An exclusive limited edition Hari Raya sampul design has been crafted by the artist Superdoofus, also known as Arif Rafhan Othman. His one-of-a-kind sampul showcases Star Wars and Gundam characters infused with batik patterns. These highly sought-after money envelopes, adorned with Selamat Hari Raya in Jawi script, were completely sold out in under two days.
“I’ve been crafting pop-culture-infused batik art on canvas for about a year now,” said Superdoofus.
“With Raya approaching, I figured it’d be neat to adapt the same designs, allowing these characters to wander into everyone’s pockets! This (series) also marks my debut in creating sampul raya, and I believe it’s a positive and encouraging trend. It not only fosters entrepreneurship among artists but also reflects the growing recognition and support for local talents by Malaysians nowadays,” he added.
Renowned cartoonist Bendi, famous for his work in Ujang magazine, has been diligently working this Ramadhan.
For the first time in his 30-year career in the local comics scene, his artwork has been featured on duit raya covers.
“I’ve only been fulfilling orders. After advertising on my Facebook page, I’ve received an incredibly positive response from fans of cartoons and comic art,” said Bendi, 50, whose real name is Muhammad Najib Mohd Rudin.
Based in Perak, the artist has received orders for 400 sets of the duit raya covers for this Raya season.
PHOTO: MARI! KE KEDAI & PROJEK SEMBANG-SEMBANG 
A CONTEMPORARY TOUCH
Artists are incorporating personalised messages into their designs. For example, Shari Jaffri, a writer and illustrator for Tragikomedi since 2018, includes a brief pantun (poem) in her design as a playful response to the nosy makciks and pakciks who are overly curious about your love life.
“Last year marked my initial foray into sampul raya art,” said Shari.
“The inspiration, much like my brand, stems from slice-of-life experiences, particularly within our culture. I aimed to create something relatable for Malaysians in my age bracket,” she added.
A number of these artistically crafted money packets find their place in neighbouring countries as well.
Kirin Sharom, a self-taught illustrator for Bunga Dan Bintang, markets her creations in Singapore and Indonesia. Her pastel-coloured designs capture traditional Hari Raya scenes.
“I began crafting sampul raya in 2019. It was a handmade endeavour, and I recall personally handling the printing, cutting, and folding,” said Kirin, who resides in Seremban,
Negri Sembilan.
“There aren’t many artists (outside Malaysia) creating sampul raya art, so customers appreciate it, particularly those from Singapore,” she added.
Syazri Zamrod, the creator of Cultkids, has also been occupied this festive season with commissioned sampul raya projects, notably for a Vietnamese restaurant chain and a special series for the rock band Search.
The self-taught graphic designer, renowned for his retro Malaysian film and pop art designs, views this trend as a chance for artists to collaborate with brands and showcase their artwork to a broader audience.
“This collaboration marks my inaugural venture into crafting sampul raya art, and I anticipate more brands offering opportunities for artists to design Raya-themed merchandise for them this year,” said Syazri.
If you haven’t yet arranged your money packets for Hari Raya or if you’ve missed out on these exclusive designs, there’s no need to worry.
The Mari! Ke Kedai store in Cyberjaya has a whole wall dedicated to contemporary sampul raya designs. Among them is Projek SembangSembang’s ‘Aneka Ragam, Suka Semacam’ series, which vividly depicts the lively and chaotic moments of a typical Raya celebration at home. “It was during the lockdown season that we discovered the delight of merchandising art for Raya – we created sampul raya, postcards, and gift boxes. With movement restrictions, we recognised that online business knows no boundaries in reaching out and bringing joy to our customers,” stated a store spokesperson.
“It’s not the traditional style of sampul that I used to receive when I was younger; it’s more thoughtful,” remarked Rose Shazwani, 28, who purchased three different sampul raya designs at Mari! Ke Kedai.
“I have nieces and nephews who enjoy drawing and colouring, so I’m eager to see their reactions when I give them their duit raya,” she added. – M Irsyad
