Sabah-born celebrity stylist Saerah R. Kunjan is celebrating a career high after receiving the Green Thread Award at the 2025 Borneo Fashion Week on Wednesday (Oct 15).
She took home the honour, which recognises outstanding contributions to sustainability in fashion, for her 15-look collection Re:Born/eo.
Crafted primarily from upcycled denim and reclaimed textiles, the collection combines traditional craft techniques like linangkit, brass work and woven textiles from Sabah and Sarawak.
It was brought to life through collaborations with craft communities across Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia’s Orang Asli groups.
In a statement, Saerah said her win belongs to “every artisan, seamstress and hand that stitched stories” into the garments.
“As a daughter of Borneo, this collection is a tribute to the stories and communities that shaped me … It’s my love letter to Borneo,” she added.
She also voiced her plans to expand collaborations with artisans, develop accessible heritage-inspired collections and share Borneo’s stories with audiences from around the world.
Saerah, who’s of mixed Sarawakian heritage, is known for her sustainable approach to styling and neo-indegenous pieces.
Among the local stars she has worked with include singers Marsha Milan, Bella Astillah and Alena Murang and Velvet Aduk.
