Tengku Ampuan Pahang Launches Borneo International Textile Festival 2025 At Borneo Cultures Museum
KUCHING: The Borneo International Textile Festival 2025 Expo opened this afternoon at the Borneo Cultures Museum, bringing together heritage institutions, artisan communities and contemporary textile innovators under one roof.
The ceremony was graced by Tengku Ampuan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah along with her daughter, Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah Athiyatullah, with a tour of the exhibition floors, engaging closely with exhibitors and viewing showcases that reflected both Malaysia’s ancestral craftsmanship and its evolving creative landscape.
Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja was among the key highlights, presenting its work in developing Tenun Pahang Diraja as a heritage craft enterprise capable of improving livelihoods.
Established in 2017 and led by Her Majesty as Co-founder and Chairman, the foundation continues to sustain traditional weaving while expanding economic opportunities for artisans.
The expo also featured Cityscape of the Future by Jihan Abdullah, whose practice bridges heritage and futurism.
Drawing inspiration from traditional Malay architectural motifs, her woven sculptural forms crafted with monofilaments, metal wire and fishing line, reimagine textiles as spatial and light-responsive structures that reflect the rhythms of contemporary urban life.
Sarawak’s cultural identity was further celebrated through the Persatuan Perintis Inovasi Songket dan Keringkam Kuching, a state-level organisation dedicated to safeguarding and innovating songket weaving and keringkam embroidery.
Established in 2024, the association advances research, artisan development and cultural preservation to ensure these traditions remain resilient in a modern era.
The Tun Jugah Foundation, renowned for its work in preserving Iban oral history and weaving heritage since 1985, showcased its collection of ceremonial textiles including pua kumbu and pua sungkit.
Its weaving gallery continues to nurture new generations through classes, workshops and internship programmes.
Other exhibitors included Kraftangan Malaysia, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Sarawak, the Sarawak Craft Council, Tanoti House and Society Atelier Sarawak, each contributing to the narrative of heritage continuity, innovation and artisan empowerment.
Also present were Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews
