KUCHING: Tengku Ampuan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, launched the Traditional Textile Exhibition at the Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM) here today.
It is being held in conjunction with the inaugural Borneo International Textile Festival 2025 (BiTF 2025).
Accompanied by her daughter, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Athiyatullah, she was received on arrival by Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Following the launch, the royal guests toured the ground-floor exhibition area and visited participating booths showcasing traditional textiles.
The exhibition features rare textiles, archival collections and contemporary pieces from Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja, Kraftangan Malaysia, Yayasan Tun Jugah, the Sarawak Craft Council, Tanoti House and Society Atelier Sarawak.
It will remain open to the public until March 3, 2026.
As part of efforts to widen public engagement, the International Textile Exposition will also take place at BCM from December 7 to March 3 next year.
Conferences and masterclasses at Pullman Kuching will offer additional platforms for industry players and the public to participate in safeguarding regional textile heritage.
At a recent press conference, Abdul Karim said the festival represents a significant milestone for Sarawak and Borneo as the first international-scale textile event hosted in the region.
He said the festival highlights the cultural, artistic and economic importance of textiles and weaving, in line with the theme ‘Weaving the Future: Connecting Cultures, Communities & Creative Industries’.
“BiTF 2025 positions textiles not only as cultural heritage but also as catalysts for innovation, sustainability and socio-economic growth,” he said, adding that the event aims to elevate Sarawak as a regional hub for sustainable textiles, cultural diplomacy and creative collaboration.
Also present were the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS), Datuk Syeed Mohd Hussein Wan Abdul Rahman, and Adviser to Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE), Datuk Dr Sabariah Putit.
