PUTRAJAYA - Tea tray cloth is usually traditionally crafted from a piece of white linen with embroidery walls while shoe bags are produced from plastic-like fabrics.
However, in the 30th edition of the Associated Country Women Of The World (ACWW) Triennial World Conference 2023, one may find a variety of artworks, thanks to their tea tray cloth and shoe bag craft competition!
Displaying their crafts at the Marriott Hotel here, there are tea tray cloths and shoe bags crafted from flowery embroideries to traditional motifs of participating countries to abstract stitches and animal motif printing.
According to Women’s Institute (WI) Pahang advisor Datuk Hamimah Abdul Karim, ACWW comprises around 10 million members across the globe and each conference will have various handicrafts competitions.
"We chose these crafts for the competition to ensure there is universal standardisation and to bring out the artwork amongst women where they can create it through handicrafts.
"In 2019 when we had the conference in Australia, quilting was that year's craft competition while in another conference it was crafting phone cases,” she shared with Bernama when met.
Hamimah added that there are 183 entries for the tea tray cloth category while 217 entries for the shoe bag category.
She also added that the top three winners for each category will be given a Noritake tableware and plaque while 20 consolation prizes will also be given for each category.
To make the competition more interesting, ACWW held a viewer’s choice for both categories where the conference participants cast their votes on their favourite design.
"We will announce the winners tonight because the top three winners and viewer's choice for each category’s craft will be up for an auction on May 23, while the other entries will be up for sale and the money will go to ACWW,” she said.
The competition is judged by the Malaysian Creative Sewing Arts Association (PSJKM) chairman Datuk Fully Chye Goet Lee and two judges from Australia with expertise in crafts.
According to Hamimah, among criteria for entry are to be an ACWW member, various fabrics allowed and practicality encouraged; clean stitches and the courage to play with creativity.
ACWW was founded in 1929 to bring together rural women and their organisations across the globe. It seeks to address challenges faced due to their communities' isolation, discrimination against women and their lack of standing in political processes.
ACWW's membership spans 82 countries and since 1947, the association has passed over 180 policy resolutions by popular vote.
This year’s conference, which gathers about 500 ACWW members from around the world, runs from May 17 to 25. - BERNAMA