Today, the 29-year-old is making a name for herself with her eye-catching banners, each of which is entirely handwritten, therefore making them artistically and aesthetically unique.
“I first learnt khat while studying at a religious school in Shah Alam, where I had the chance to attend special calligraphy classes taught by an ustaz from Yayasan Restu, an institution known for calligraphy,” the mother of three told Bernama.
She started out with writing short phrases such as “Assalamualaikum” or the name of her customers on items such as canvas bags, bookmarks and pencil cases, which she sold online.
According to Yusairah, who works as a part-time teacher at a private religious school, her skills began to gain wider attention when videos of her work went viral on TikTok with the hashtag #bannerjawi – leading to a surge in demand for her handwritten creations.
Yusairah uses calico fabric as the base for her banners, and all writing is done freehand with black acrylic paint and three brushes of different sizes. She does not rely on digital sketches or templates.
“When I first started, I would do pencil outlines but, over time, my hand became so familiar with the flow of the script that I’m now able to do it right away with the brush, letting my creativity guide me.
“If I make a small error, I will patch it up with a piece of fabric. In the case of a major error, I will replace the entire banner,” said Yusairah, who can complete eight to 10 banners a day, depending on the length of the text and the complexity of the calligraphy requested by the client.
To meet the growing demand for her banners, Yusairah has enlisted two helpers who assist with adding patterns and decorations, ensuring the overall layout and design are balanced.
Despite having to juggle her banner business with her teaching responsibilities, Yusairah remains committed to delivering every order on schedule.
“I hope more people, especially the younger generation, will learn to appreciate the art of khat writing as it represents our cultural identity and heritage. I want to make this art feel contemporary and relevant to society,” she concluded.
Follow Yusairah on TikTok.