TUN TUGAH FOUNDATION

The Tun Jugah Foundation Weaving Community comprises of an  accomplished, experienced team of instructors in Kuching, led by a fourth  generation senior weaver from the family of Tun Jugah. The Foundation’s  affiliated weavers are from several longhouses along the Batang Balleh, as  well as within Kapit’s vicinity of Sungai Amang and Sungai Sesibau. Highly  skilled and seasoned, they have been commissioned weaving projects all  these years by the Foundation since the early 1990s, ongoing producing  intricate pua kumbu in the traditional way. 

The Tun Jugah Foundation Tenun Fashion Week Olah Idup Collection was  conceptualised to highlight the various Iban weaving techniques that are  taught at Tun Jugah Foundation. First and foremost, the ikat tie-dye resist  technique to produce warped-pattern fabrics or textiles. 

The second method is the Iban sungkit, a supplementary weft-wrapping  technique to create the patterns or motif using coloured threads on a plain  warp/weave. 

The third method is the anyam or karap, a supplementary weft-weave  technique where the design is created and determined by the heddles, using  gold or silver threads on plain warp/weave. 

The fourth method is the tenun leka marik, a technique where beads are  woven onto the warp to form the patterns. The warp can be of a plain weave  or a warp with ikat patterns. 

The last method is basic plain weaving, using a combination of coloured  threads to produce fabric or textile. All five techniques are taught on Iban backstrap loom.

The Tun Jugah Foundation Tenun Fashion Week Olah Idup Collection  focuses along a contemporary tangent to highlight on how one may weave  and wear their wardrobe in today’s current lifestyle whilst respecting  traditional methods and its customs. 

Iban traditional based contemporary accessories complementing the outfits  are also produced and taught at the Foundation. The mini and oversized  tangu or marik empang (beads collar), paperbeads necklace, ikat sash with  beads, ikat clutches, wrap-around woven belts, belts and chains made using  igi peria metal based filigrees resembling gourd seeds. And lastly, the baju marik – upper Batang Rajang’s unique beads dress.