By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 21: ‘Nuansa Seni Vol 6: Festival Kelestarian Warisan Melayu Sarawak’ brings Sarawak’s Malay heritage to life with an exclusive fashion showcase that fuses traditional artistry with modern design, captivating audiences through innovative reinterpretations of time-honoured crafts.
Held at a local hotel here last night (July 20), the event presented a visually striking display of cultural preservation and creativity, featuring collections that seamlessly blended traditional textiles and motifs with contemporary fashion narratives.
The fashion showcase highlighted exquisite pieces by designers and artisans including D’Keringkan x Maskota, the Sulaman Keringkam Trainers’ Collaboration, Saanah Sukit Ajang (Songket Rejang), Atma Nusa, Raja Inai Sarawak, Gabungan Penyulam-Penyulam Negeri Sarawak, Halmi Batik, and Harizan Khaider.
Each ensemble was a tribute to the rich artistic legacy of the Sarawak Malay community, while also demonstrating how heritage can evolve with the times without losing its essence.
Themed ‘Pertembungan Dua Zaman, Satu Jiwa’, the festival united creative practitioners, artisans, designers, and cultural communities in an inclusive platform to promote and preserve Sarawak Malay identity in a progressive and relevant context.
The event was graced by Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, accompanied by Minister for Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, and Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, along with other dignitaries.
Festival project director Dr Sharifah Suzana Wan Shukran, or Dr Anna Sue, shared that Nuansa Seni was first conceptualised in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic and has since grown into a cultural ecosystem encompassing performing arts, heritage crafts, fashion design, and contemporary narratives.
“The word ‘nuansa’ means a very subtle difference. Through this festival, I hope to convey that even as we move with modern times, we must not let our arts and culture fade away. If there is a difference, let it be a nuance, a subtle shift, not a disappearance,” she said during her welcome address.
She also stressed the importance of the younger generation’s role in sustaining cultural continuity, while honouring the contributions of veteran artisans and cultural figures who have shaped the Sarawak Malay artistic landscape.
As part of the festival, a special recognition ceremony was held to honour these cultural guardians for their lifelong dedication and efforts in ensuring that Sarawak Malay heritage continues to live on in the hearts of future generations. — DayakDaily
