Queen to make ‘tenun bauxite’ synonymous with Pahang
PEKAN: Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar plans to make “tenun bauxite” (a type of woven silk fabric) synonymous with Pahang.
Tunku Azizah said she was inspired to use the red bauxite mineral earth as a natural dye for clothes after some people accused her of mining the minerals.
“I instructed Penor Prison to send representatives to collect the red soil to extract colour for weaving material. It has a beautiful colour texture. I have named it tenun bauxite.
“Since Pahang is rich in bauxite minerals, tenun bauxite will be the image of Pahang now,” she said at the opening of Natural Dyes creative workshop at the Sultan Abu Bakar Museum on Friday.
Bauxite mining made headlines in the state capital in 2014 before unregulated mining by certain quarters forced the government to impose a moratorium on the activities in Pahang on Jan 15, 2015.
Tunku Azizah said the two-day workshop will emphasise the use of natural dye in tenun materials.
“Besides chemical dyes, it is better to use natural dye derived from recycled materials, roots, leaves and plants,” said Tunku Azizah, who supports traditional crafts.
Tunku Azizah, who is also Tengku Ampuan Pahang, shared her experience of visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, India and Indonesia to learn about techniques related to colours and textile.
“I believe in the ‘look and learn’ concept, so in our trips, we usually set out early and return late at night.
“If we come across interesting techniques, we will bring the ideas back to Pahang, followed by modifications to be included into Tenun Pahang Diraja,” she said.
Tunku Azizah said Tenun Pahang Diraja had seen a lot of progress in terms of pattern and techniques since she took over in 2005.
“We are moving to another level and this could not be done without assistance from the experts.”
She hoped the two-day regional workshop on Natural Dyes, held at the Cultural Complex in Pulau Keladi here, will spark an interest among participants to learn from craft experts.
The workshop is open to art enthusiasts, especially textile designers. It aims to educate them on creative and innovative applications of new techniques using natural materials.
Eight facilitators, including those from India, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and Malaysia, are involved in the workshop.