MIRI: Renowned Sarawakian fashion designer Datuk Indera Tom Abang Saufi will be honoured with the Special Art Recognition at the Miri Arts Festival 2025 (MAF’25) for her outstanding contribution to promoting Sarawak’s heritage through fashion and the arts.
She will also serve as a key speaker at the MAF’25 Arts Forum, where she will share insights from her 40-year journey in the fashion industry.
The forum will be held at 2 pm on January 2, 2026, at the Miri City Indoor Stadium, with free admission.
Organisers said that the recognition acknowledges Tom’s long-standing role in preserving and elevating Sarawakian cultural identity through contemporary fashion, particularly her distinctive integration of indigenous motifs, traditional textiles and modern design.
Internationally recognised for her work, Tom rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming one of Malaysia’s most respected designers.
Her collections, known for blending indigenous elements with contemporary aesthetics, have been showcased across Asia and featured in prestigious publications.
Throughout her career, Tom has received numerous local and international awards, cementing her reputation as a cultural icon and creative force in the fashion industry.
Beyond design, organisers described Tom as a cultural ambassador and storyteller who has consistently used fashion as a platform to honour heritage while empowering women, particularly mothers, to pursue ambition at any stage of life.
The Miri Arts Festival 2025 focuses on celebrating local ethnic and contemporary creative arts, with organisers noting that Tom’s work reflects the festival’s aim of integrating art into daily life and strengthening community identity through creative expression.
