Malaysia’s heritage textiles carry more than motifs — they hold memory, identity, and the quiet resilience of generations who wove their lives into cloth. Yet many artisans walk this path alone, without community or support. The Khazanah ACE² Heritage Textile Fellowship, an initiative by Yayasan Khazanah and Yayasan Hasanah, was created to change that: to unite artisans across Malaysia, connect them to global craftsmanship in Türkiye, and cultivate a long-term ecosystem where culture can flourish.

For three enriching weeks in Istanbul, Bursa, and Kayseri, ten selected fellows trained with Turkish masters, witnessing firsthand how ancient craftsmanship can evolve alongside modern design. But the greatest transformation came from the connections formed — artisans who once worked in isolation now learning, experimenting, and dreaming together.

As Programme Director Nini Marini reflects, “this fellowship is about confidence, creativity, and connection — because culture survives through community.”

The journey these artisans have begun is not only about preservation — it is about creating a future where heritage continues to live, adapt, and inspire.

The 10 fellows

1. Haris Rashid – the artist who found home in batik

For visual artist Haris Rashid, batik unlocked a part of himself he didn’t know he was missing. Known for his textured, nature-inspired paintings, Haris always used art to make sense of the world — but encountering batik brought him back to his roots.

“I learned my family’s stories through patterns,” he shares. In batik, he saw identity, memory, and lineage woven into fabric.

Haris approaches batik with the heart of a storyteller. Wax becomes memory, colour becomes emotion. “Passion comes first,” he says. “Technique can be learned — but your work must be honest.”

Through the ACE² Fellowship, Haris hopes to bridge contemporary art with heritage textile craft, creating work that feels like home — especially for those who have lost connection to theirs.

2. Nor Azrina Lasa – reimagining batik through modernity

Founder of Batiktektura, Nor Azrina merges architectural precision with the softness of tradition. With a background in finance and a keen eye for structure, her pieces create conversations between geometry, minimalism, and heritage.

“I see batik as a dialogue between tradition and innovation,” she explains.

Her work challenges the belief that batik must remain ornamental. Instead, she redefines it — clean, modern, purposeful. Through ACE², she hopes to study how global textile ecosystems remain relevant, and how Malaysian artisans can sustain tradition without limiting creativity.

“Heritage thrives when we allow it to grow,” she says — a philosophy she carries into every design.

3. Neng Kho Razali – wearing Sarawak’s heartbeat

For Neng, founder of Neng Kho Razali, founder of Neng Kho Razali, craft began from empathy. A single headpiece created for a cancer survivor grew into a brand rooted in Sarawak’s myths, colours, and spirit.

“Every piece must carry meaning — not just beauty,” she says.

Her designs, seen at the Rainforest World Music Festival and Kuching Jazz Festival, weave emotion and storytelling into every thread. ACE² gives her the space to deepen her understanding of cultural symbolism, and expand her advocacy for designs that honour Sarawak’s identity.

“I want people to feel seen through my work,” she adds — a truth that defines her artistic journey.

4. Foo Hui Ping – the architect who found herself in weaving

Former architect Foo Hui Ping left the world of concrete and lines to rediscover herself through weaving. After years behind a screen, she longed for something tactile — something human.

“Weaving connects time, people, and place,” she says.

Inspired by Tenun Pahang Diraja, Hui Ping brings architectural precision into loom-based artistry. She sees weaving not just as craft, but as grounding — a practice that returns her to self and spirit.

“It feels human to work with my hands again,” she shares.

Through ACE², she hopes to study heritage textiles as living forms that evolve with society, carrying both history and hope.

5. Charmaine Kamal – knots that hold memory together

Self-taught fibre artist Charmaine Kamal transforms everyday materials into emotional landscapes. Through Nurtureknots Studio, she works with climbing ropes, seatbelts, and reclaimed fibres, creating sculptures that feel alive.

“Each knot is about strength, patience, and continuity,” she says.

Her craft merges sustainability with artistry, guided by intuition and nature. “The material tells me what it wants to be,” she explains.

Through ACE², Charmaine hopes to explore how tactile craft can continue to spark mindfulness and emotional expression in a fast-paced world. To her, knots are metaphors — threads of resilience that bind us to memory.

6. Norinda K. Su’ut – guardian of Keringkam’s golden thread

Norinda has carried Sarawak’s golden-thread embroidery, Keringkam, in her hands since she was nine. Taught by her mother and grandmother, she became a master craftsman — and a cultural guardian.

“Keringkam is the soul of Sarawak,” she says.

Her skill has earned international recognition, but her greatest achievement is teaching. Over 30 university students have learned Keringkam under her guidance — a legacy she holds close.

“I want every household in Sarawak to own Keringkam,” she shares proudly.

For Norinda, ACE² is an opportunity to document, refine, and elevate this treasured art form for future generations.

7. Mohd Azwarin – Reviving the royal art of telepuk

From Terengganu, Mohd Azwarin is among the last artisans practising Telepuk, a royal gilded textile once worn by Malay nobility. Using real gold leaf, Telepuk reflects the splendour of a civilisation — and its near disappearance.

“Telepuk reflects the height of Malay civilisation,” he says.

Determined to revive it, Azwarin trains young people, researches motifs, and advocates for its preservation. “Even if they don’t master it,” he insists, “young people must know their heritage.”

ACE² strengthens his mission to transform Telepuk into a sustainable art ecosystem that honours its royal origins while welcoming new interpretations.

8. Emily Jeneble – Weaving strength and community

In Sabah’s Batu Lunguyan village, Emily Jeneble weaves bamboo not just into baskets or mats, but into futures. Her brand, Kelarai by Emily C, reimagines traditional bamboo motifs for modern living spaces.

“Seni bukan sekadar hasil tangan — ia adalah warisan dan pembangunan komuniti,” she says.

Emily has trained over 30 villagers, creating livelihoods through craft. Her dream is to open a gallery that celebrates the evolution of Salingkawang weaving, placing it on the global craft map.

Through ACE², she hopes to broaden her artistic vocabulary and scale her community-first approach.

9. Rosliza Muhammad – batik as poetry and memory

Rosliza did not choose batik at first — batik chose her. Under the mentorship of the late Wan Nong Ahmad, she learned batik not as technique, but as love.

“At first, I didn’t like batik,” she recalls. “But through my mentor’s hands, I saw its soul.”

Over 30 years later, she is known for her poetic floral batik pieces that blend discipline with emotion. “Art is subjective — the only right way is to do it with love,” she says.

Through ACE², Rosliza hopes to preserve traditional batik methods while creating room for new, expressive interpretations.

10. Norasilah Jamlun – keeper of Dastar and Siambitan identity

From Kota Belud, Norasilah carries the weaving traditions of Dastar and Siambitan, rooted in the Iranun culture of Sabah. She began weaving when she realised the craft was disappearing in her family.

“Weaving is our dignity — our culture and identity,” she says.

Now a mentor to rural women, Norasilah uses weaving as empowerment, ensuring skill and heritage flow to the next generation. Through ACE², she seeks to innovate responsibly — creating contemporary relevance without losing ancestral meaning.

Carrying the threads of the past into the future

As this inaugural cohort completes their journey to Türkiye and back home, they return with sharpened skills, widened perspectives, and a shared purpose. Together, they form the foundation of a new artisan community — one that uplifts each other, preserves the nation’s cultural soul, and carries Malaysian heritage into the future.

For Yayasan Khazanah, the fellowship reaffirms a mission to nurture leaders — including cultural custodians. For Yayasan Hasanah, it strengthens an ecosystem built on collaboration, not isolation.

These ten fellows are now the threads that bind past to future. Their hands keep culture alive — and their voices ensure it continues to evolve, beautifully, for generations to come.