There was a time when plain white t-shirts were my choice of attire. I shied away from displays of conspicuous messages across the chest; why would I want anyone to ‘read’ me! Once, printed t-shirts were mundane reprints of typical local scenes or swatches of batik or songket. These were just too commercialised and heavily catered to the tourist market. For me the advent of Owen Rebecca Designs changed the locally produced t-shirt market. Her images had chosen to include us in the interpretation of Malaysia’s tropical wildlife and vegetation. Indeed this was a bold move as stylised adaptations of such sceneries were barely in existence in the 1980s. Thanks to these stylised adaptations of local sceneries and Malaysia’s natural landscapes, we no longer take these views for granted. Those t-shirts were fun and worn with great pride! We were inducted into the realm of Rebecca Duckett’s dreamscapes.

Photo by Kane Taylor on Unsplash
Owen Rebecca Designs: Perfect To A Tee
In the mid 1980s, Rebecca returned to Malaysia as a trained weaver and textile print designer. She earned her degree from Parsons New York. Then, her dilemma was no different from other fresh graduates. Where do we go from here? With a modest loan from her father she decided to print her designs on t-shirts. A joint venture with husband-to-be David Wilkinson saw the launch of Owen Rebecca Designs at Kuala Lumpur‘s Central Market.

Image courtesy of Rebecca Duckett
Decades have passed since the production of these Owen Rebecca Designs printed t-shirts. Yet we have discovered that still, after all these years, this was the very thing that people remember her by.
“Oh THAT Rebecca Duckett!’ they would say.

Image courtesy of Rebecca Duckett
She responded with a chuckle and gamely reacted, “That’s great! It’s what started it all. We started at the most happening place at that time. Central Market was buzzing with artistic fervour and home to many young talents. David and I opted for a base there as we wanted to feel that pulse.”

Seen here wearing sarongs and kebaya tops. In the background are durian and banana trees, a typically tropical backdrop of Malaysia kampungs.
Image courtesy of Rebecca Duckett
And oh those t-shirts! I’m amazed at how people remember them. Even more so that some others have kept theirs through the years. It’s been decades! Until now I do receive e-mails enquiring if I have any up for sale. That’s really lovely.
Rebecca Duckett

Image courtesy of Rebecca Duckett
Renewing Ties With Rebecca
I had only recently caught up with Rebecca at a book launch. From a sea of faces, a familiar smiling face from long ago clearly stood out. There she was, the tall and unmistakable lightly tanned Eurasian and her distinct oriental features. Instantly recognisable, engagingly bohemian, exuding a sense of bonhomie. It struck me then how Rebecca is always smiling!

!mage by Author

Image by Author

Image courtesy of Rebecca Duckett
Rebecca’s Philosophy
Life post-Owen Rebecca Designs has been fulfilling! Her three children, Edward, Arthur and Tessa are all grown-up and pursuing their interests in different parts of the world! Each one of them fiercely independent; but family ties are strikingly strong with holidays together and celebrations of family milestones.
Rebecca continues to encapsulate the essence of her passion for botany and natural history. She shares these interpretations at exhibitions and art fairs in Malaysia, South Korea, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. As she is aways seeking opportunities to expand her horizon, she finds herself constantly assessing her work, ensuring their evolution with current trends. The priority is to maintain her personal values, without compromise!
Always do the hard work, over and over. Practise. The practice of your craft hones your skill. Become an expert and don’t compromise on quality. Make sure what you do inspires the passion within you. In this day and age the hardest thing is to not let anyone diminish the vision in your head. Focus.
Rebecca Duckett

Image courtesy of Rebecca Duckett
To date, I am most proud of this exhibition. It draws a parallel between the treatment of women, the history of plants, the environment; the connections between Women, Sex & Botany.
Rebecca Duckett
“My Inspirational Parents”
Rebecca Duckett grew up in Malaysian plantations, surrounded by the lush tropical greens of the country. It was an incomparable childhood and one she would not have traded for the world. Her father had unwittingly trained her to appreciate her surroundings with a keen sense of observation and exploration. She has continuously developed this skill. These documentaries have become second nature to her, eloquently transcribed into words and drawings. Romancing nature has become integral in her life as she renders witty expressions of her life and loves.
“A Malaysian plantation childhood in the 1960s and 1970s. My mother made our clothes, curry lunches and the best trifle ever. My planter father wrote diaries, loved natural history. My inspirational parents.”
Rebecca Duckett

Image courtesy of Rebecca Duckett
She is a super talented homemaker! Detailed needlework and excellent cook!
Rebecca Duckett

Image courtesy of Rebecca Duckett
Oh, Dad was an amazing storyteller and he kept my three brothers and I enthralled with his tales. He came to Malaya with the British Army back in 1954. He gave up his commission three years later, choosing a life in the plantation that befitted his interest. My parents first met in Segamat, where Mum was working the family business at a supply shop. To cut a long story short, they married and here we are!
Rebecca Duckett
Rebecca is currently working on a book based on her father’s diaries. She aims to cast a book that will draw a parallel with her own childhood and experiences in the plantation.

From left to right: Jonathan, Neil, Rebecca and Richard.
Image courtesy of Rebecca Duckett
A Proud Malaysian
Rebecca’s mixed parentage led me to a simple query, “How Malaysian are you?”
Now that’s a loaded question, isn’t it?
Rebecca Duckett
I’m totally totally Malaysian, although I’m fully aware I may not sound like one!
But that’s what you get if you were to judge a book by its cover. Though, I will admit that it does tickle me to see some people caught off-guard when I speak in Malay!

Image courtesy of Joanna Line, a participant at Rebecca’s Artistic Retreat
My childhood is in Malaysia. The plantation was all I knew for a time and I loved it.
Rebecca Duckett
And my art is Malaysia! I have always been inspired by what I have been exposed to all my life. Without doubt we are a nation abundant in her beauty in nature, people and certainly heritage. Indeed, I am blessed to have grown up amongst a wealth of experiences.
David too, is all Malaysian; he was born in this country. By virtue of his ancestry, I would say that he is more of a British thoroughbred! His parents are British, and they too had come to Malaysia and lived in the plantations.
My three children are Malaysians. This is our home.
Where Do We Go From Here?
In the next episode, come get to know Rebecca as we discover how her ventures and experiences have shaped her artistic course over the past few years. When the COVID-19 pandemic descended, Rebecca was in Piedmont, Italy. Discover how the involuntary separation had impacted her. Then, allow me to take you on a little journey to the Artistic Retreat on Pangkor Island as I share my novice experience in art. And as for those Owen Rebecca Designs t-shirts, let me discreetly let on that something is in the offing!
Pingback: '100 Patterns In 100 Days': Rebecca's Artistic Journey In Isolation - Espoletta
Pingback: Tiger Rock: Rebecca Duckett's Art Retreat - Espoletta