Call for entries: Hasanah Gold Threads Awards to honour artists, designers and craftspeople

Last year, the awards received a total of 168 submissions from across Malaysia

The categories stretch across various forms such as fabrics, baskets, and beadwork, thus advancing the boundaries of heritage textiles.

Preserving Malaysia’s rich textile traditions is crucial for safeguarding cultural identity and bridging the past with the future. Equally important is honouring the skilled artisans who uphold these fast-vanishing legacies and ensuring this heritage endures for generations to come.

Hasanah Gold Threads Awards was established by Yayasan Hasanah to champion excellence and innovation in textile craftsmanship while recognising artisans who push the boundaries of tradition. After the success of its inaugural event last year, HGTA expands its reach through nationwide activations and outreach programmes to unearth the brightest textile talents across the country.

The awards are open to citizens and organisations and encompass six categories — supplementary weft, ikat, drawing and stamping, embroidery and embellishment, plaiting and beadwork. Each category offers two awards: best traditional and best innovative, each with a cash prize of RM25,000. Additionally, there is a special mention award with a cash prize of RM10,000 for works that demonstrate commendable effort. Submissions are now open until Aug 20 and winners will be announced in September.

Hasanah Gold Threads Awards also puts together an exhibition of the winning textile submissions

“As HGTA enters its second year, we’re paying close attention to what makes each entry stand out — largely by looking at key aspects of excellence, authenticity, marketability and innovation. Hence, the robust criteria would encapsulate the quality of technique and workmanship, how well it represents our cultural identity and aesthetic values, its potential to sell alongside its functionality and sustainability, and how it pushes boundaries in design and production. We want to shine a spotlight on the incredible dedication and creativity of our textile producers, and we hope this criteria will inspire some really exciting entries,” commented Jacqueline Fong, founder of Tanoti and co-producer of the awards.

HGTA 2023 awarded 18 Malaysian textile artisans, with a special recognition of Hasanah Gold Award “Patron of Malaysia’s Heritage Textiles”, presented by Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar. 

Until Aug 31, the public will be treated to an exclusive exhibition of the winning textile submissions from HGTA 2023, at the 3rd Floor, Pink Zone of Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. Admission is free. For more information on the awards and display, visit hasanahgoldthreads.com.

This article first appeared on Apr 29, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.