About Yayasan Tuanku Nur Zahirah (YTNZ)

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Founded in 2007, Yayasan Tuanku Nur Zahirah is a foundation under the royal patronage of Her Majesty the Queen of Malaysia, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah. It aims to preserve and enhance indigenous craft and heritage while helping to improve the livelihoods of artisans, weavers and craftsmen- “Improving Lives through Heritage”.   By tapping into the rich heritage as a platform through which they can help underprivileged communities in rural areas gain reasonable and sustainable income, the YTNZ’s scope and focus areas are determined by the following criteria:

• Improvements of income and living standards, benefiting a sizeable segment of  underprivileged communities
• Preservation and enhancement of indigenous craft and heritage
• Potential for growth & sustainability

This supports the government’s objective in raising the standard of living among rural communities by creating new and additional employment opportunities, as well as opening up new avenues for entrepreneurship.  In addition to initiatives that bring immediate and short-term benefits, the foundation is also involved in activities that encourage design adaptation and production, research and development, skill transfer, quality control/enhancement, process management and marketing, as well as others that will facilitate the successful commercialisation of local crafts and by-products, paving the way for future growth and sustainability.

As a start, it has chosen to play a central role in stimulating the songket-weaving industry, a Malay heritage that still exist in a few parts of Malaysia, but most predominantly in the east coast state of Terengganu.  Focusing on trade, not aid, YTNZ hopes to place the power of opportunity into the hands of the weavers, providing not only income but the chance to take an active role in the shaping of their future by making the leap from informal cottage industry trading to international commerce.

In just 18 months, the Foundation has achieved the following:

• Set up a system to manufacture fabrics in Terengganu and Sarawak
• Increased the number of weavers, which has direct impact on their livelihood, improving income and living standards
• Empowered women (many of the weavers are single mothers)
• Experimented with success on Songket on various contemporary fabrics under the Royal Terengganu Songket Brand
• Introduced the use of Royal Terengganu Songket on a range of other applications with local and international designers
• Presented their products at recent key events namely the Rulers’ Conference and the World Endurance Championship Gala

Why Songket

Songket is a rich and luxurious fabric that has been traditionally hand-woven in silk or cotton yarns by rural Malay women in Malaysia for more than two centuries.   It uses an intricate technique whereby groups of metallic weft threads are interwoven with weft and warp threads of the background, providing a contrast in both colour and texture.   As such, songket-weaving is a laborious and tedious process that requires a high degree of concentration from the weaver, resulting in a work of art that reflects the weaver’s artisanship and skills.   
While songket-weaving still exists today in the rural areas of some parts of Malaysia, particularly in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, the lack of innovation and new markets has led to a marked decline in songket-weavers.  The songket-weaving industry has barely managed to survive and evolve amidst increasing competition, modernisation and globalisation.

The Royal Terengganu Songket

By engaging in activities that involve design adaptation, product innovation, training, quality enhancement and marketing, the foundation continues the legacy and tradition of songket as well as facilitates the successful commercialization of songket in new, global markets in order to ensure future growth and sustainability.   This led to the creation of the brand Royal Terengganu Songket where Songket is introduced on various contemporary fabrics as well as a range of other applications. By engaging local and international designers, the brand creates innovative products such as gifts, soft furnishing and fashion related products.

Gift items for households or offices have been developed in innovative designs and adaptations that are refreshing and unique.    Similarly, soft furnishings namely cushions, curtain add-ons, wall panels, lamp shades and ottoman chairs come in pastel shades in contemporary or traditional designs and fabric.   Fashion houses now have an avenue to explore creating their signature designs and motifs in contemporary fabric or otherwise.   Corporations are able to furnish their offices with wall panels with their corporate logo and colours woven in songket or alternatively songket based corporate premium gifts.

Items produced by the Yayasan Tuanku Nur Zahirah under the Royal Terengganu Songket brand is available through customized orders by both individuals or corporations, and all purchases will be tax exempt in view of their charitable support.

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