I am delighted to have been able to assist my beloved wife throughout her scientific expedition, dedicated to the preservation and exploration of the rich cultural heritage bequeathed by our ancestors along the Silk Road. This ancient trade route continues to weave its legacy, connecting people across time and space to this very day. Thanks to my Grandfather, who ignited my curiosity about the world through his career as a filmmaker and writer, I have been able to create the video documenting our research journey.

Fitri Utami Ningrum is an Indonesian cultural activist and currently pursues Master degree in Archaeology at the University of Indonesia. She focuses on assisting the community in developing and promoting tourism potential in rural areas through Pesona Desa Nusantara. She also initiated CAVENTER Indonesia (Culture, Art, Community Development, and Ecotourism Center) together with tour operator around Indonesia. She obtained her Bachelor degree in Marketing Management at University of Indonesia. With the experiences gained from the community empowerment activities, she creates some coaching initiatives for community/village focusing on heritage, culture, and rural development. 

I am Asri Hayati Nufus, a master’s degree student in archaeology at the University of Indonesia. I have previously worked as a curator at the Museum Batik Indonesia and as a curatorial expert at the Textile Museum in Jakarta. My primary interest lies in researching and curating textiles, particularly the rich and diverse textile heritage of Indonesia. My experiences in museum work have provided valuable insights into the world of textiles, honing my skills in the preservation and interpretation of cultural artifacts. As part of my master’s program, I am currently developing my final project, focusing on the textile heritage of Indonesia, utilizing museum collections as the primary source.

LE Ha Thu Oanh, Alicia (she/they) was born and raised in Vietnam and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature and Hong Kong Studies from the University of Hong Kong. She’s currently a Research Assistant at the Department of History, Hong Kong Baptist University. Her public writings have appeared in Zzz Review, Mekong Review, Canto Cutie and other places.

This year, one of my plans during my 20s came true. In order to carry out the primary research for Vietnamese textile heritage – a chapter of the project “SHARE (Southeast Asian Textile Heritage): Southeast Asian Textile Heritage Digital Database and Curatorial Exhibition Project covering Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Vietnam SHARE project led by Dr. Puspita and funded by the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, I have had a great opportunity to reach out to my friends around Vietnam for collecting and documenting information on ethnic villages. It was magnificent to witness the process of making fabrics such as weaving silk from yarn and natural dye with plant materials. Through numerous conversations, I was able to piece together the meanings behind textile patterns of different ethnic groups in different geographical locations across the country. In sharing and connecting with the local community, I listened to a lot of stories from the ethnic minority groups about their lives, traditions, festivals and costumes, which help them preserve and maintain their long-standing history and culture. As the process of modernisation accelerates, the younger generations of Vietnamese have had the chance to travel and discover the multi-layered values that are deeply-rooted in our motherland.