Over 300 Pahang weave fabrics to be displayed at London craft week

KUALA LUMPUR - For the first time ever, over 300 hand-woven fabrics in the Royal Pahang Weave collection made by prisoners at Penor Prison and Bentong Prison will be displayed during the London Craft Week at the Malaysian High Commission building in Belgrave Square, London from May 9 to 15.

More than 30 fabrics from the collection were designed and created by the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who is also Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja patron.

Pahang State Museum Corporation director Datuk Ahmad Farid Abdul Jalal said the participation in the exhibition was initiated by Tunku Azizah in efforts to promote local craft products particularly woven fabrics abroad.

"In my opinion, Her Majesty’s move is a right move because the festival is held in a strategic location and is a tourist hotspot, which can introduce and promote our craft products to the world,” he said during a media conference held in conjunction with London Craft Week at Istana Negara here today.

He said Tunku Azizah has been involved in the initiative with the Penor and Bentong prisons for a long time, adding that the Queen was personally involved in creating the fabrics in terms of designs, materials and colours.

London Craft Week will bring together nearly 300 renowned creators, designers, brands and galleries from around the world to showcase their crafts.

Ahmad Farid added that participation at London Craft Week would give exposure to local players and encourage them to produce high-quality products.

"Tunku Azizah will also fly a former inmate to the festival to give the individual exposure as well as exchange views to improve product quality,” he added.

Apart from that, he said, London Craft Week would display a special collection from Pahang State Museum to showcase the history of the Royal Pahang Weave. - BERNAMA