Kaamatan Festival Boosts Seamstress' Business
KOTA KINABALU, May 30 (Bernama) – The Kaamatan Festival, Sabah's biggest ethnic celebration held throughout May, has become a profitable season for local seamstress Norhayati Ajirul, 52, whose tailoring shop is bustling with customers this time of year.
Though her shop is modest in size, its reputation rests on the quality of her craftsmanship. The neat stitching, precise tailoring, and intricate bead embroidery of traditional attire from various Sabahan tribes continue to draw customers eager for both ready-made garments and custom orders.
A Bajau woman from Kudat, Norhayati, said the demand for traditional clothing spikes significantly during the Kaamatan season. She currently works alongside five employees to fulfil the flood of orders.
"Orders for traditional clothes come in all year round, but when the Kaamatan season arrives, they multiply. Alhamdulillah, even our ready-made clothes sell out.
'We have regular customers and even local wholesalers who rely on us,' she shared.
To meet the high demand, Norhayati adjusts her business hours during the festival month.
"Normally, we open from morning until evening, but during Kaamatan, we start as early as 7 am and close at 9 pm to complete the orders. A week or two before the Kaamatan climax, it's non-stop... no time for breaks," she told Bernama.
Norhayati revealed that her team can complete as many as five traditional outfits a day, with each garment taking between two and five hours, depending on the design's complexity.
The price for each outfit is set based on size and design, with children's traditional clothing sold at RM100 to RM150 apiece, while adult outfits range from RM500 to over RM2,000.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
21 hours ago
- The Star
Teen embraces heritage through art
Splash of culture and colours: Danya Adriana is getting known among local art activists as a young painter who produces abstract works inspired by Malay cultural elements – a fresh approach that combines heritage elements with modern techniques. — Bernama SEMENYIH: While many of her peers are immersed in the digital world and modern entertainment, a student in Kajang has opted for canvas and colour to express herself and explore her cultural roots. And at just 17, Danya Adriana Feri Pito Manda is already making a mark in the local art scene for infusing abstract art with rich Malay culture, presenting a refreshing blend of tradition and contemporary style. Danya Adriana's love for art began early. Encouraged by her family, her passion took shape at the age of 12 when she enrolled in art competitions and workshops. 'My family, mainly my mother, has always supported me. That unwavering encouragement is what drives me to keep creating,' she said in an interview with Bernama. Choosing abstract art as her main medium, Danya Adriana has experimented with texture, layers and colours inspired by nature. Shades of blue and green – symbols of calm and connection with the natural world – dominate her work. For Danya Adriana, the abstract style offers freedom – a way to express emotions and ideas without being confined to realistic forms. At the same time, her paintings celebrate Malay cultural heritage through subtle motifs and imagery. 'I'm especially drawn to traditional Malay designs like the patterns on wau (traditional kites), batik and the elegance of old Malay architecture. Malaysia's rich flora and fauna also inspire me. 'These elements are woven into my work through a modern abstract approach,' she added. Though yet to pursue formal art training, the SM Khir Johari student continues to take her craft seriously. She brushed aside negative perceptions about young artists, choosing instead to focus on her growth. Danya Adriana's talent has gained recognition since she joined Galeri Art Market Malaysia, a platform that showcases emerging artists to a wider audience, five years ago. Last year, corporate giants YTL Group and Marriott International commissioned her to produce three large-scale pieces for the interiors of the newly-opened Moxy Hotel Kuala Lumpur Chinatown – a project she completed earlier this year. Her work can also be found at several branches of Hospital Aurelius in Nilai, Pahang, and Kedah. An admirer of surrealist icon Salvador Dali and Malaysian children's book illustrator Yusof Gajah, Danya Adriana is balancing her artistic journey as she prepares for this year's Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exam. She also dreams of opening her own art studio one day. 'I want it to be a platform for education so that more people can explore art in depth. 'I also hope to merge art with economics and business, helping young artists become more independent and professional,' she said.
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
Kaamatan joy in US and France
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025 By: Zia Holly, Lorena Binisol Text Size: Sumazau and Magunatip dances and singing. AUBURN: Some 30 Sabahans from across the United States gathered here, recently, for the fifth annual North Borneo Sabahan Abroad Kaamatan Celebration, maintaining cultural traditions thousands of miles from home. It was hosted by Jo Monjuil-Frinak and Tim Frinak at their Auburn home and drew participants from Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida and Ohio. What began as a modest gathering five years ago has evolved into an annual homecoming for Sabahans living in the US. Advertisement The event featured a unique addition this year when Malaysian storyboard artist Glen Bosiwang, visiting his sister Kim Bosiwang in Phoenix, documented the celebration through his cartoon illustrations, capturing the spirit of Kaamatan in artistic form. Unlike formal cultural events, the Kaamatan Abroad celebration operates without any central committees or rigid protocols. Each year, different hosts shape the celebration's character, with Dr Pamela Petrus-Purser providing guidance. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Sinar Daily
2 days ago
- Sinar Daily
Datuk M. Nasir embraces new acting opportunities
Well known for his serious and romantic roles, he said he is not confined to any specific genre and is open to accepting and taking on any role that is offered. 08 Jun 2025 03:16pm Legendary Malaysian artiste Datuk M. Nasir has long been celebrated not only for his contributions as a singer, songwriter and visual artiste, but also for his distinctive presence on screen. - Photo by Bernama KUALA LUMPUR - With a career spanning over four decades, legendary Malaysian artiste Datuk M. Nasir has long been celebrated not only for his contributions as a singer, songwriter and visual artiste, but also for his distinctive presence on screen. His powerful performances continue to leave a lasting impression on audiences, proving that his acting talent is just as compelling as his musical legacy. Since making his film debut in 1986 with Kembara Seniman Jalanan, the Singapore-born artiste, known as the sifu of Malaysia's music industry, has consistently delivered performances with a 'magical touch' that have left a lasting impact on viewers. Some of the films starring the Mentera Semerah Padi and Tanya Sama Itu Hud-Hud hitmaker have not only sparked widespread discussion but also achieved box office success, including Fenomena (1990), Selubung (1992), and Puteri Gunung Ledang (2004). Legendary Malaysian artiste Datuk M. Nasir has long been celebrated not only for his contributions as a singer, songwriter and visual artiste, but also for his distinctive presence on screen. - Photo by Bernama Riding on this success, the husband of Marlia Musa-well known for his serious and romantic roles-said he is not confined to any specific genre and is open to accepting and taking on any role that is offered. "I think producers assume I only want to do serious things. Actually, if I like the character and the story, I don't mind. I can do comedy too," he told reporters. M. Nasir, whose full name is Mohamad Nasir Mohamed, demonstrated his versatility-including comedic roles-when he played a primary school principal in the latest music video Wamwamsam by comedian-singer Joey Daud. Although his appearance in the video was brief, the laid-back portrayal by the music maestro-deviating from his usual serious or romantic characters-brought a breath of fresh air to his showbiz career. For the father of six, there are no strict conditions when it comes to accepting acting offers, as long as the script and character are compelling and capture his interest. "If I have the time and the story appeals to me, I'll do it. The last time I acted in a film was in 2023, in Imam. Since then, I've done a bit of drama work and voiceover for a local animated film," said the Mentera Semerah Padi singer. Meanwhile, the Most Popular Male Singer award winner at Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian in 1994, 2000, and 2001 is also reported to be involved in an upcoming film titled Daud M Origin, playing the role of Joey's father, who leads the movie. "I didn't say I accepted the offer (Daud M Origin); Joey did. I asked him whether he was actually offering me the father role, but before I could respond, he had already confirmed it. Well, we'll see-if the deal is good," he said. - BERNAMA More Like This
