Best Of Local Craft At Harrods

London - Londoners will get a peek at Malaysian craft at a promotion in Harrods London, writes Meera Murugesan.

Striking, trendy designs in rich colours and traditional fabrics will be the highlight of a fashion show that is set to captivate London when the Malaysian Craft Promotion is launched at Harrods London on Feb 26.

This promotional event, which goes on until March 28, will see Harrods play host to the best that Malaysian culture and craft has to offer.

One of the not-to be-missed events during the launch is the fashion show that will feature 54 designs on fabrics such as batik, songket and tenun by Malaysian designers, including Datin Sharifah Kirana and Kartini Illias as well as designs from Galeri Seri Endon and Kraftangan Malaysia.

The designs, many of which show a clever use of much-loved local fabrics which will appeal to European tastes, range from contemporary, figure-hugging batik creations in bold prints and striking, kaftan-inspired evening gowns in rich fabrics to trendy songket evening wear in striking colours.

The event will be launched by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah in a ceremony that will see Londoners getting a taste of Malaysian culture with dances such as tarian sekapur sireh, a Chinese fan dance, an Indian dance performance, and traditional dances from Sabah and Sarawak.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin will also grace the event, along with National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Harrods` owner Mohamed Al-Fayed.

The event, a joint effort between the ministry and its agency, Kraftangan Malaysia, is aimed at taking local craft onto the international stage and giving European consumers a better idea of Malaysian craft.

International consumers need to be made aware of the variety, quality and uniqueness of Malaysian craft, and events such as the Malaysian Craft Promotion will help propel local products into the international market, Shafie said at a media preview of the launch held at Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur on Feb 13.

“If our products are well received, we may consider making this an annual affair and holding it in other locations around the world such as the United States or Paris,” Shafie said.

A total of 3,173 Malaysian craft products produced by 66 artisans will be on display at Harrods during the promotion.

These products range from textiles, ceramics and metalwork to traditionally woven baskets, batik cushion covers and other home accessories.

Products that sell well during the month-long event are likely to be mainstays at Harrods.

Harrods customers will also have the opportunity to try their hand at batik painting through demonstrations organised by Kraftangan Malaysia.

Source: NST.com.my

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