LONDON: The week-long Royal Pahang Weave exhibition ended its run on a high note on Sunday, with more than 2,000 people passing through the doors of the Malaysian High Commission in Belgrave Square throughout the event period to view the exquisite woven pieces of the Tenun Pahang DiRaja collection on display as part of the London Craft Week.
Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who is the patron of Yayasan Tenun Pahang Diraja, oversaw the smooth running of the exhibition and at times acted as the royal tour guide for visitors, especially foreigners, to take them through each step and intricate motif on the beautiful fabrics.
One of the last visitors to receive the queen's attention and benefit from the private tour was British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Charles Hay.
His return to London and attendance at the event proved to be a momentous coincidence as it was Hay who had informed Tunku Azizah of the London Craft Week before she made a visit to London in October last year.
Speaking to the New Straits Times, Tunku Azizah said Hay showed her a catalogue and had asked if she would like to meet London Craft Week founder Guy Salter.
"He saw the potential and that's how we are here in London today.
"Thanks to Hay for introducing me to the London Craft Week and for introducing me to Salter, thus my favourite tag line, one small step in prison, one giant leap to London," she said, in reference to the intricate pieces woven by inmates of the Bentong and Penor prisons.
Among the items on display were the Raja Permaisuri's collection of attires woven by the inmates for palace ceremonies, including the one for her installation.
The loom, named the Kei Siam, was used by former inmate Md Ghafawi Mat Said to demonstrate the weaving technique.
The exquisite piece woven by several prisoners and continued during the exhibition by Ghafawie, will now take pride of place at the ceiling near the main staircase of the High Commission.
The piece bears traditional motifs, as well as the Jalur Gemilang and the words "London Craft Week" woven into it.
Salter, who had visited the exhibition on the first day, described witnessing "London Craft Week" being woven into the piece as an emotional experience.
The exhibition, themed Menyulam Harapan (Weaving Hope), had drawn numerous visitors, most notably the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, as well as Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester.
The exhibition ended with a closing dinner at an Italian restaurant in London with the queen and her entourage as guests of the Battersea Power Station.
Tunku Azizah said she plans to continue with the exhibition next year.
"The Tenun Pahang DiRaja must go to the next level. This time, I am giving you a challenge. We must now go into linen, organza and cotton," she told the wardens of the Bentong and Penor prisons, the staff of Yayasan Tenun Pahang DiRaja, the Museum Pahang director and others who had been instrumental in realising her vision of bringing the 1,000-year-old Pahang craft to the world stage.
"I want the people to know our legacy and I want the world to know what we have done to give hope to the prisoners to rehabilitate them after their time behind bars. They, in turn, have given us hope in reviving the Tenun Pahang Diraja."