Inaugural Borneo International Textile Festival 2025 happening Dec 7 and 8, 2025

BT
2 hours ago
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KUCHING, 5 December 2025: The Borneo International Textile Festival 2025 (BiTF2025) will be taking place this December 7 and 8, 2025 at Pullman Kuching, and is the first ever international-scale textile festival dedicated exclusively to celebrating the cultural heritage, artistic excellence and economic potential of textiles and weaving arts across the Borneo region and beyond.

This was announced earlier today by the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during a press conference at Baitulmakmur 2 in Kuching.

Themed ‘Weaving the Future: Connecting Cultures, Communities & Creative Industries’, BiTF 2025 is organised and supported by MTCP, in collaboration with key government agencies, industry players, cultural institutions and academic partners, reflecting the ministry’s commitment to preserving heritage knowledge, empowering artisan communities and revitalising traditional crafts by integrating them into today’s creative economy. BiTF 2025 also positions textiles not only as cultural heritage, but also drivers of innovation, sustainability and socio-economic growth.

The launching of BiTF 2025 will see a royal keynote address by Her Royal Highness, Tengku Ampuan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who has been an avid advocate in the preservation of traditional textiles, especially the ‘Tenun Pahang’, for over 2 decades. Her keynote address titled ‘The Future of Our Heritage’ will set the future path of traditional arts in the modern era.

BiTF 2025 will feature a panel discussion on ‘Sustaining Heritage, Revitalising Traditional Textile Industries in the Modern Economy’ with distinguished speakers including Creative Director of Ikat Indonesia and Entrepreneur, Didiet Maulana, Regional Head of Group Corporate Events of CIMB Group, Ismail Ani Arope and Senior Vice President of Corporate Services at Sarawak Energy, Hajah Siti Aisah binti Adenan. The festival will also be showcasing living heritage through masterclasses in Batik and Keringkam, Pua Kumbu and Songket weaving demonstrations, fashion showcases by UNIMAS’ emerging designers, cultural dance performances and in-person interaction with leading creative figures from the region.

Sense of Malaysia

Kuching International Airport

7 December 2025 @ 9.30am

Held in conjunction with BITF 2025, this year’s “Sense of Malaysia” is happening at Kuching International Airport. Organised and curated by CENTEXS Commercial Sarawak, the event will be graced by Her Royal Highness, The Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, adding a special significance to a programme that brings together artisans, cultural custodians and creative partners from across the country.

This year’s line-up also features key heritage partners Tun Jugah Foundation (Olah Idup) and Pink Jambu each contributing their own expertise in preserving and reimagining Malaysia’s textile traditions. Visitors will be able to experience up-close demonstrations featuring Kek Lapis Sarawak by Kek Lapis Hamidah, Songket weaving, Pua Kumbu weaving and Keringkam embroidery, offering a more personal look into the craft techniques that have shaped generations.

Traditional Textile Exhibition

Borneo Cultures Museum

7 December 2025 – 3 March 2026

To broaden public access, the Traditional Textile Exposition is taking place from December 7, 2025 to March 3, 2026 at the Borneo Cultures Museum, and will be showcasing the richness and diversity of traditional textiles, embroidery and related cultural knowledge from Malaysia and its surrounding region, as well as ancestral weaving practices, heritage motifs, textile symbolism, embroidery traditions and intergenerational craftmanship.

This curated exhibition gathers leading textile custodians and institutions, including Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja, Tengku Jihan under Yayasan Pahang Diraja, Sarawak Craft Council, Kraftangan Malaysia, Persatuan Perintis Inovasi Songket dan Keringkam, Yayasan Tun Jugah, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Tanoti House, and Society Atelier Sarawak. Exhibits featuring rare collections, archival materials, traditional looms, intricate embroidery works, contemporary textile interpretations, as well as textile-related books and publications that document Malaysia’s rich heritage will also be on display.

Juma’ani Pavilion

8 December 2025

The BiTF2025 programme continues on 8 December 2025, also marks the third anniversary of the Juma’ani Pavilion. The anniversary also serves as a quiet tribute to the late Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, whose influence continues to inspire efforts in supporting women entrepreneurs, preserving traditional textiles and strengthening Sarawak’s cultural identity on a wider stage.

With additional showcases including Jahitan Upholstery, Fesyen Technology CENTEXS, and Tenunan Songket by PROSPECT, the day will culminate with the JUMA’ANI Runway Collection by Pink Jambu at the Juma’ani Pavilion. An MoU between the Tun Jugah Foundation (Olah Idup) and Pink Jambu will also be formalised on the same day to strengthen collaborative efforts within Malaysia’s fashion ecosystem.