S’wak designer extraordinaire showcases intricate silk Pua Kumbu in Japan

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KUCHING: Renowned Malaysian designer Edric Ong scored another first at a recent International Fashion Show in Japan by showcasing Sarawak’s hand-woven silk, ‘Pua Kumbu’.

ELEGANT: A Japanese model wears Edric Ong’s creation, silk indigo dress and jacket with yellow silk ‘Pua Kumbu’ shawl.

According to  a statement made available yesterday, the show that was held at the Tokushima Castle Museum Gardens featured twelve of his exclusive designs, all executed in natural dyes.

Back in Kuching, and before going off again to do another fashion show in Kuala Lumpur, Ong said it was an honour to represent Malaysia at these prestigious shows in Japan, together with other designers from Taiwan, Korea, New Zealand, China and Japan.

“I was proud to show the best of our Iban hand-woven silk, ‘Pua Kumbu’ dyed in the yellow dye derived from ‘akar penawar landak’.”

He added that the Japanese audience was amazed at the new range of textiles and the intricate weaving technique.

“Tokushima is well-known as the natural indigo centre of Japan, known as ‘Awa indigo’. I also learnt a lot of their traditional methods of processing natural indigo, which I hope to teach to my weavers at Rumah Garie, Sungai Kain soon,” Ong said in the statement.

Ong will also be showcasing these silk textiles in his collection at the Tenun fashion show to be held at the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 24 and 25.