TENUN Fashion Week
“The Future is Handwoven”
Online, 15. – 17. 10. 2021

TENUN will consist of digital fashion presentations to be screened online on 15–17 October 2021. Weaver community profiles and behind-the-scenes footage of the production of the collection will also be screened in the lead-up to the event, with Jury and People’s Choice Awards to be presented to selected participants. The event will be free for viewing.

TENUN will be accompanied by an online shop, available on this website, and will culminate in a live fashion show (subject to allowable COVID-19 protocols) in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia as a supplement to a proposed international event in eco-fiber and textiles.

THE FUTURE IS HANDWOVEN

From exquisite fabrics produced for royal courts to vivid cloths woven by communities in the remote reaches of highlands and islands, Southeast Asia has a handwoven textiles tradition with a tremendous range of imagery and demonstrating considerable technical prowess. TENUN, the first fashion week dedicated completely to the handweaves of ASEAN, reimagines their continued relevance by exploring their use in today’s fashion.

The weaving communities of Southeast Asia lie at the heart of this event. Experience the creations of the makers of these garments, and celebrate their ways of life and means of livelihood. As we stand with these weaving communities, including those of women in rural communities, we also contribute to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of No Poverty (SDG 1), Gender Equality (SDG5), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).

ORGANISERS

AHPADA, the ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association is an ASEAN accredited civil society organization. Over its 40-year history, it has worked to create an awareness of Southeast Asian craft products and its artisans, and to act as a regional forum for craft organizations and practitioners in ASEAN member states to address issues concerning the revitalization, promotion and development of crafts. AHPADA also initiated the UNESCO-AHPADA Seal of Excellence, now renamed the Award of Excellence administered by the World Crafts Council, to create international awareness of Southeast Asian handicrafts. Recent events co-organized by AHPADA with a focus on indigenous weaving traditions include the 2019 WEFT Forum in Kuching, Malaysia and the World Ikat Textiles Symposiums in Jakarta, Indonesia (2019); Khon Kaen, Thailand (2018); and Kuching, Malaysia (2017). AHPADA-affiliated designers have also been active in digital fashion weeks in 2020 and 2021.

Tanoti, is a Malaysian accredited social enterprise dedicated towards heritage craft preservation, women empowerment and rural community building. Within its atelier in Kuching, Sarawak, Tanoti’s 18 weaver artisans specialise in the songket or supplementary weft weaving. This progressive collective of songket weavers are highly skilled and continuously push the boundaries in handicraft and in weaving. Tanoti has been participating in fashion showcases locally and internationally since 2016, both physically and virtually.

More information:
https://tenunfashionweek.com
https://www.ahpada.com