Tunku Azizah looking on as the tenun fabric is dyed. - Bernama
PEKAN: Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has turned the brick red colour of bauxite into a new creative inspiration for Tenun Pahang Diraja.
Tunku Azizah’s imagination and observation gave her the idea to pick the bauxite ore’s natural colour as her choice for the traditional woven fabric’s dye.
Tunku Azizah (second from right) looking on as Wan Rosdy presents a mock cheque to Fatimah.
“And I named it tenun bauxite,” she said at the opening of the natural dyes creative workshop at Sultan Abu Bakar state museum here recently.
“Since Pahang is rich in bauxite, tenun bauxite will be the image of Pahang from now on,” she added.
She said apart from chemical dye, the tenun fabric had also used some recycled materials, roots, leaves and plants for its colours.Tunku Azizah, who is also the Tengku Ampuan Pahang, shared her experience on visiting several countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, India and Indonesia with her team to learn about techniques related to colour and textile.
She practised the “look and learn” concept in coming up with ideas to produce new designs of the woven fabric.
Tunku Azizah examining a finished product at the workshop.
“During my recent trips to these countries, I observed the techniques and ideas of the woven fabric operators there which I later modified or upgraded to be used in Pahang,” she said.
Tunku Azizah said Tenun Pahang Diraja had progressed in its patterns and techniques since she took the effort to develop the industry in 2005.
She said in any work or industry, it has to move forward and currently, the Tenun Pahang Diraja has gained international recognition.
“However, it’s not my work alone as its progress and development is also thanks to the assistance and cooperation from the team of experts and others involved,” she said.
Tunku Azizah helping to dye a fabric at the workshop.
Also present at the event were Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and state Tourism, Environment and Plantations Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin.
Wan Rosdy also presented a cheque for RM50,000 to Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja trustee Fatimah Ismail.
