The work behind the cloth.

At Tanoti, the preservation of heritage crafts is about more than safeguarding traditional techniques. It is about sustaining the knowledge, livelihoods and cultural identities carried by generations of artisans. From handwoven songket and ikat to traditional rattan basketry, these living traditions connect us to our past while continuing to find relevance in the present.

Borneo Interwoven is a five-day gathering of 204 weavers, natural dye practitioners, designers, researchers and cultural stakeholders from across 13 countries in the region and beyond. Through cultural exchange, shared practice and intergenerational knowledge transmission, the gathering creates space to learn from one another, explore traditional and contemporary techniques, and collectively reimagine the future of ASEAN’s textile heritage.

Rooted in community and shaped by collaboration, Borneo Interwoven celebrates heritage not as something to be preserved in isolation, but as a living practice that continues to evolve through the people who carry it forward.

At Tanoti, we believe preserving heritage crafts means keeping their stories alive, far beyond the loom. Through Dreamweaver The Musical, the songket weaver takes centre stage, bringing the intricacies of her craft, the knowledge behind each thread, and the lives shaped by this tradition into the world of performance and storytelling.

In collaboration with Balkon Media and Sarawak Energy, Dreamweaver The Musical brought the world of songket to life through 21 performances across Kuching and Kuala Lumpur. Blending traditional craft with theatre, music and storytelling, the production introduced audiences to the people and cultural heritage behind the weave, creating new ways for an enduring tradition to be experienced, understood and celebrated.

Jointly produced by Tanoti and the ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association (AHPADA), the Hasanah Gold Threads Awards (HGTA) celebrates the artisans preserving Malaysia’s rich textile heritage while encouraging innovation and sustainable livelihoods.

Across its first two editions, HGTA received 326 submissions, recognising traditional craftsmanship across six categories. In 2024, 20 winning entries were selected from 158 submissions, with RM360,000 in prize awards.

Beyond recognition, HGTA creates opportunities for artisans to connect with new audiences, explore collaborations and carry their heritage forward for future generations.

From textiles once woven for royal courts to vibrant cloths created by communities across Southeast Asia’s highlands and islands, the region’s handweaving traditions reflect extraordinary technical skill and cultural diversity.

Launched in 2021 by Tanoti and the ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association (AHPADA), with support from Maybank Foundation, TENUN Fashion Week brought together 45 weaving communities across ASEAN, placing the artisans behind the fabrics at the centre of the conversation.

Through fashion, storytelling and cultural exchange, TENUN reimagines the place of traditional handweaves in contemporary design, connecting ancestral knowledge with new audiences and future opportunities for weaving communities.