WEFT is back!
April 24, 2006 by jernehhong
WEFT Forum kicks off on May 5
Upon making its last appearance in 2003, the World Eco-fiber and Textile (WEFT) Forum is coming back to Sarawak from May 5th to 7th, with weavers, artisans, scholars and collectors to promote knowledge, use and collection of eco-fiber and dyes!
The WEFT Forum Director Heidi Munan said that the fourth WEFT Forum organized by Malaysian Handicraft, Sarawak Craft Council, Sarawak Tourism Board, Society Atelier and Museum Sarawak will be officially opened by the State Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud on May 5th, 10am at the Sarawak Tourism Complex (Old Court House) in Kuching.
"As the standard of technology and living increased over the years, the usage and design of traditional arts and crafts can no longer meet the current market demands and needs. Let us take the traditional hand-woven mats for example, they were popularly used as sleeping mats by many Sarawakian families back in the 60s and 70s, but such cases are rare today," she pointed out.
If nothing is done to conserve our traditional arts and crafts, they are likely to be abandoned by our community in the long run. Thus the WEFT Forum plays an important role in conservation and encouragement of the use of natural, sustainable material in the creation of arts and crafts. Sarawak hosted three WEFT Forums in 1999, 2001 and 2003 respectively, "Textile Traditions Today" is the theme of the 2006 forum.
"19 local and international experts from Turkey, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, Philippines, Malaysia and other countries were invited to give an in-depth speech during the three-day forum," said Heidi.
Among those speakers, Dr. Miyoko Kawahito(Lecturer and researcher at Tokushima Prefectural Industrial Technology Center, Japan) will share her knowledge of "Indigo dyes traditionally used in Japanese textile Production", while Dr. Barbara Leigh(Associate Director of Studies, University of Technology Sydney) will provide her views in "Cultural nationalism in material form: the market and the state show common cause" and Dr. Nazlina Shaari (lecturer, Design Technology Program, Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts UNIMAS) will explore the "Sartorial Culture of Berawan Women" with the audience.
In conjunction with the WEFT Forum, a Gala Fashion Show & Dinner as well as an international Craft Bazaar will be held throughout the duration of the forum. All of the forum speakers and other participants are also invited to exhibit and trade at the Craft Bazaar for three days from 9am to 6pm daily, said Heidi.
Vicky Fong the choreographer for the event, revealed that 12 designers will showcase their creative works at the Gala Fashion Show & Dinner on Saturday May 6th.
According to her, the participating international designers are Alfonso Guino (Philipppines), Donna Campbell (New Zealand), Creative Bee (India), Ahmad Sopandi (Indonesia), Asaf/Zahid Ali (Kashmir-India) Adelaida Lim/Rajo Laurel (Philippines) and Miyoko Kawahito (Japan), while local designers are Raymond Jolly, Aaron George, Edric Ong, Winnie Wong and the special presentation from University Malaysia Sarawak with their ‘Self-Expression’ collections.
Tickets for the Gala Fashion Show & Dinner (RM 100/150/200) are available for sale at the Sarawak Craft Council situated at the Round Tower (Opposite the General Post Office). Or contact the SCC at tel:082-245652.
