KUCHING: The rich textile heritage of Borneo and beyond will be celebrated in an upcoming festival to be graced by the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the inaugural Borneo International Textile Festival (BITF) 2025 on Sunday (Dec 7) and Monday will focus on the artistic excellence and economic potential of textiles and weaving arts across the region.
"BITF 2025 positions textiles not only as cultural heritage but drivers of innovation, sustainability and socioeconomic growth," he told a press conference here on Friday.
Abdul Karim said Tunku Azizah was scheduled to deliver a royal keynote address on "The Future of Our Heritage", setting the direction for the future of traditional arts in the modern world based on her extensive experience in promoting the Pahang Weave (Tenun Pahang).
He said the festival will feature a forum and panel discussion with speakers from the creative leadership, finance and corporate sustainability sectors.
There will also be masterclasses in batik and keringkam, Sarawak's traditional Malay embroidery; weaving demonstrations of the Iban pua kumbu textile and songket; fashion shows by emerging designers from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas); and cultural dance performances.
In addition, Abdul Karim said Tunku Azizah will grace the "Sense of Malaysia" event at Kuching International Airport on Sunday, held in conjunction with BITF 2025.
The event brings together artisans, cultural custodians and creative professionals from across the country to showcase the traditional and contemporary craftsmanship of Malaysian textiles.
Later on Sunday, Tunku Azizah will launch a traditional textile exhibition at the Borneo Cultures Museum here.
The exhibition, which runs until March 3, will highlight traditional weaving practices, heritage motifs, textile symbolism, embroidery traditions and craftsmanship through a display of traditional textiles, embroidery and related cultural artefacts from Malaysia and the region.
"We are building an ecosystem to support those involved in traditional weaving and textiles through events and exhibitions like BITF 2025.
"This is part of our cultural heritage and we must preserve and promote it," Abdul Karim said.
