About

Silk Road

southeast asian textile heritage

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the virtues of artistry

Maritime Silk Route Textile proudly presents an extensive collection of Southeast Asian textiles, curated through the dedicated research efforts of SHARE (Southeast Asian Textile Heritage). Supported by the UNESCO Silk Road program 2022-2023, this digital database seek to promote and showcase the exquisite beauty of textiles from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. From February 2023 to January 2024, the curatorial process of the content has been conducted, encompassing an extensive preliminary literature review and fieldwork observations in museums and cultural centers. This endeavor has successfully brought to light the remarkable richness and significance of the textile heritage within these captivating countries.

Never ending Journey

Honoring this artform, Maritime Silk Route Textile seeks to provide information and knowledge on Southeast Asian textiles, following the AREA framework of Access, Representativity, Education, and Engagement*. By adhering to these principles, this platform accommodates different perspectives and ensures a comprehensive representation of national origins and their textile traditions, promoting research and education for young individuals in art and heritage. Through these endeavors, we aspire for learners to genuinely engage and develop a profound appreciation for the remarkable traditions and artistry of local artisans.

Permatasari, P. A. 2022. iWareBatik : digital information system for enhancing Batik learning in the framework of heritage preservation and sustainable tourism. PhD dissertation. Università della Svizzera italiana. Switzerland. Link : iWareBatik | SUSI (sonar.ch)

About

Future Perspective

and some Limitations

The Maritime Silk Route Textile website focuses on the rich textile heritage of Southeast Asia, encompassing the six countries involved in the SHARE project: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. With a geographical and historical perspective, this platform provides an insightful overview of Southeast Asia’s textile heritage, shedding light on the various motifs and their underlying meanings. Respecting communal intellectual property rights, this platform website exclusively showcases the diverse textile heritage of each country through a curated selection of four textile motifs. Accompanied by concise explanations about their meanings and the community of practices involved, those ornaments represent a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of each nation. Delving deeper into the art of textiles, it acts as a catalyst, inspiring textile learners to explore and seek a more comprehensive understanding when exploring the countries.

Future additions will include information on other countries and regions such as Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar, along with an extensive analysis of the socio-economic development of textile artisans, creative industries, and other contemporary production techniques.

capturing visual wonders

Visual materials on the Maritime Silk Route Textile website are responsibly sourced, with proper lines of credits given to authors’ textile collections and online creative common sources. In addition, permissions have been obtained from cultural institutions in the six countries to ensure the integrity of the communal intellectual property inherent in textile heritage. Each image and information is meticulously curated and developed in collaboration with country-specific researchers and experts.