Designer: I am helping, not exploiting Orang Asli tribe

 

Fashion designer Anuar Faizal has clarified that his new collection, Mah Meri x Anuar Faizal, was aimed to help generate income for the Orang Asli tribe with a commercial touch.

This comes after the collection received major backlash from several quarters, with some accusing Anuar of cultural appropriation.

Previously, Malaysiakini reported that Orang Asli activist Shaq Koyok slammed Anuar’s collection for putting Mah Meri ritual masks on half-naked models.

Shaq, who is also a contemporary artist, accused Anuar of disrespecting Mah Meri customs and exploiting the tribe when the latter named his collection after it

In response, Anuar said he wants to dignify the increasingly marginalised and deprived Mah Meri community by taking inspiration from the culture, as it is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

Therefore, he expressed hope that the fashion show can open the people’s eyes to the value of Mah Meri’s art and culture as well as to help them generate income.

“I want to help their economy by showcasing products made by Orang Asli with a commercial touch on a big fashion show so that it is (also) internationally known.

“Maybe a few (quarters) felt sensitive when a certain culture is given a touch of fashion. They should admit that such efforts are important to uplift their economy in the world of modernisation,” he said.

Reviving Orang Asli culture

He explained that the fashion show on Sunday, witnessing the attendance of numerous influencers, also opened the eyes of various quarters to the existence of the indigenous tribe and could spread knowledge and information.

As an artist, Anuar said it is important to raise civic awareness among the local community so that Mah Meri’s culture and craft can be recognised again and does not extinct with time.

“As artists, we have to create something that can raise the dignity of our brothers and sisters as well as provide knowledge about art and culture, especially the extraordinary and rarely seen and known (art and culture) by modern society,” he said, insisting that the culture was given a breath of fresh air without having to break any taboos.

“Orang Asli find it difficult to get access to advanced civilisation, they also don’t get to enjoy the current technology at this point in time,” he added.

On the fashion show in conjunction with the CIMB Artober festival, he said the organisers including other designers involved have a long-term mission and objective to ensure racial unity, sustainability of art and culture that is competitive and preserved.

“The idea of the collection has been created by me and the Mah Meri for a while now, since 2021. We collaborated to create haute couture based on mengkuang for a joint event of three corporate bodies – CIMB, Cendana and Yayasan Hasanah.

“The design was also exhibited on the international stage in Vietnam,” Anuar said.

He also pointed out that the Raya fashion week will take place in less than three months, from Feb 29 until March 3, 2024. - Mkini