By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Feb 19: ‘Creatively Unique (CU) Sarawak 2023’, a platform for young people to showcase the uniqueness of Borneo cuisine and fashion to the far corners of the globe, has drawn 12,000 visitors from around the globe over the weekend.
CU Sarawak, a two-part event launched yesterday by The Generations, is a celebration of culture and creativity that began with its one-of-a-kind SWAK: Street Fashion Show, held at the Old Court House, and a concurrent Artisanal Food Street located at Padang Merdeka.
“With a staggering 12,000 cumulative visitor count over the weekend, The Generations was able to attract 7,530 visitors from West Malaysia, Indonesia, United States of America, and Egypt on the first day of the event alone.
“The avant-garde fashion show sold all 270 available tickets, which was a full house.
“True to their mission of empowering youth, the show featured 15 newly-debuted designers, three of whom were from Indonesia, as well as 32 adult models and 12 children models who were scouted locally, and it was their opportunity to present all of their exclusive works to a public audience,” said The Generations president Jordan Chang Kay Chin in a press release.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah attended the second day of CU Sarawak today, noting that the event unites food and fashion, with Sarawakian foodies and fashion designers coming together in a shared space to create something uniquely Sarawakian.
“The objective of this event is to create a common platform to have the local homegrown food and crafts entrepreneurs work together to achieve the goals of showcasing Borneo creativity in gastronomy and fashion at the CU Sarawak event.
“Through this event, the organisers aim to provide homegrown food and crafts entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their works and access a wider market and audience,” Abdul Karim said at a press conference following his walkabout at the CU Sarawak 2023 event, which was held today at Padang Merdeka here.
He pointed out the CU Sarawak is not only about the Artisan Food Street at the Padang Merdeka, where 73 people have registered as participants, but also encompasses the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Gastronomy Gallery at the Old Court House, which showcases the history of unique Sarawak ethnic cuisines.
“Capacity building and talent development are one of the core focuses of The Generations hence, they would like to provide this platform to Sarawakian creatives,” he added.
Among those who attended the event were Abdul Karim’s wife, Datin Zuraini Abdul Jabbar, MTCP permanent secretary Datu Sherrina Husaini, and Chang. — DayakDaily
