The royal launching of BiTF 2025

Official launching of the ‘Sense of Malaysia’ concept store at Kuching International Airport, graced by Her Royal Highness Tengku Ampuan of Pahang (centre).

KUCHING, 8 December 2025: The Borneo International Textile Festival (BiTF) 2025 officially kicked off yesterday under the theme ‘Weaving the Future: Connecting Cultures, Communities & Creative Industries’, and was graced by the Her Royal Highness Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Maimunah Iskandariah binti AlMarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj. 

Her Majesty first officiated the grand opening of ‘Sense of Malaysia’ concept store at the Kuching International Airport. Accompanied by her daughter, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah, the launching was also attended by the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and wife, Datin Sri Zuraini Abdul Jaabar, CENTEXS Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datu Sherrina Hussaini and CENTEXS Commercial General Manager, Shahren Yusri. 

Operated and coordinated by CENTEXS Commercial, Sense of Malaysia showcases local Sarawakian products, namely handicrafts, fashion and textiles, as well as food from over 25 local vendors. The store, which has been in operation for a year, recorded sales of over RM1 million in 2025, with daily sales ranging from RM3,000 to RM13,000 on busy days.

Next, Her Majesty officially launched the Traditional Textile Exhibition at the Borneo Cultures Museum, which is open to the public until March 3, 2026. Organised in conjunction with BiTF 2025, the exhibition showcases numerous weaving collections, rare textiles, archival collections and pieces from the Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja, Kraftangan Malaysia, Yayasan Tun Jugah, Sarawak Craft Council, Persatuan Perintis Inovasi Songket, Tanoti and Society Atelier Sarawak. Also present at the launching was CENTEXS CEO, Dato Syeed Mohd Hussein Wan Abdul Rahman and Old Kuching Smart Heritage Advisor, Datu Dr Sabariah Putit. 

The Borneo International Textile Festival (BiTF) 2025 officially launched yesterday evening at Pullman Kuching by Her Royal Highness Tengku Ampuan of Pahang (second left), as Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (left) and Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah (third left) looks on.

During the launching of the Traditional Textile Exhibition at Borneo Cultures Museum. 

The day commenced with an official launching ceremony for BiTF 2025, which took place yesterday evening at Pullman Kuching. In his speech, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah reflects on the remarkable transformation of the event, from the Borneo Textile Symposium in 2022 to BiTF 2025 today.

“Textiles are no longer confined to certain entities or academic study, but they are living, breathing celebrations of the identity of our ethnic group. The loom still beats strong, but now with a rhythm of innovation, sustainability, and global relevance,” he said. Allow me to express my deepest gratitude to our Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti AlMarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj. Her vision and dedication have revived Tenun Pahang into a global symbol of dignity, resilience, and hope.”

In his speech, Abdul Karim calls for the embrace of ‘Regenerative Fashion’, where faded songket and torn pua kumbu are transformed into modern accessories, which would appeal to the youth and ensure that our heritage textiles make it to the fashionable streets of London and Tokyo. “The future belongs to young Sarawakian designers who merge tradition with technology – the loom with the laptop.”