Contemporary Ngepan Batang Rajang-inspired design earns S’wak college national Heritage Fashion Award

The Ngepan Batang Rajang-inspired fashion design by Kuching Community College that won the Heritage showcased at PolyCC Fashion Week on Oct 5, 2026. Inset: Nur Hakim. Photo: TVS

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Oct 8: Sarawak’s Ngepan Batang Rajang has taken centre stage on the national fashion scene, with a contemporary design inspired by the traditional attire earning Kuching Community College the Heritage Fashion Award at PolyCC Fashion Week 2026 (POLYCCFW 2026).

The award was presented during POLYCCFW 2026 at Panggung Sari, Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex, Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur, recently.

Kuching Community College Fashion and Clothing Certificate Programme Head Nur Hakim Raifli said the recognition showed that Sarawak’s heritage could be reimagined through contemporary fashion without losing its original identity.

He said the award-winning design retained key traditional characteristics of the Ngepan Batang Rajang, particularly its use and arrangement of beads, while introducing a modern touch to make it more accessible and appealing to the public.

“The difference we highlighted in this design is that the bead arrangement was reworked into a more contemporary design so that it would be more easily accepted by the public and attract attention.

“That is what we tried to convey without altering it too much to the point of losing the design’s origins, while integrating the original cultural heritage into the design,” he said, according to a report by TVS today.

The recognition also demonstrates how traditional Sarawak attire can be adapted for contemporary audiences while preserving its cultural identity.

For Kuching Community College, the achievement shows how fashion can serve as a platform to showcase Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage to a wider audience. — DayakDaily