I like the idea of posting off a beautifully wrapped parcel to my godchildren containing something exotic and vaguely useful that they couldn’t buy at home (for most of them, that’s England, with one in New York).

I dashed here today for a quick stock up on presents for the small people I’ll be seeing on my trip away next week. ‘Batik Uncle’ is hidden away near the staircase on the rather dusty top level of the Holland Village Shopping Centre and he is a treasure.

His shop is chock full of batik fabrics that have been made in to every conceivable object, in all sorts of colours and sizes.

Whilst I am not sure I want a folding batik hat/apron/dress etc, I do want to buy his very sweet (providing you make the right colour choice) boys batik shirts costing just $15.

He doesn’t always have them in stock so it’s worth calling ahead.

Wellie Batik Fashion, #03-04 Holland Road Shopping Centre

T: (+65) 9392 2276

Green ‘cloud’ batik image courtesy of The University of Melbourne