National Textile Museum (Muzium Tekstil Negara)

Located within one of Kuala Lumpur’s most beautiful colonial-era buildings, the National Textile Museum, or Muzium Tekstil Negara, is well worth a visit even if one is not particularly into fabrics and textiles.

Details

Located to the southeast of Dataran Merdeka, the National Textile Museum brings visitors on a fascinating journey through the diversity of Malaysia’s many cultures as exemplified by the country’s textile industry.

Established in 2010, the museum traces the flow and development of the country’s textile industry and how it has shaped the lifestyle of Peninsula and East Malaysians from prehistoric times to the present

The National Textile Museum has five main galleries with collections of beautiful textiles, clothing and accessories as well as interesting information on the nation’s textile production techniques.

Pohon Budi Gallery
The Pohon Budi or Budi Tree Gallery is dedicated to the very origin of textiles from its prehistory to the development of dedicated trade routes to cater to the growth of textile production in the region.

Also on display are tools and materials involved in traditional weaving, embroidery, knitting, stitching and beading techniques as well as the making of traditional clothing and accessories such as batik and songket.

Pelangi Gallery
The Pelangi Gallery or Rainbow Gallery pays homage to a traditional textile material called ‘rainbow cloth’, also known as ‘King’s yarn’.

This gallery showcases selected heritage collections consisting of rich embroidery of silk and gold yarn, beadwork and intricate ethnic designs in a variety of motifs from several Malaysian communities such as the Chinese, Baba and Nyonya, Iban and other communities from Sabah and Sarawak (East Malaysia).

Teluk Berantai Gallery
The Teluk Berantai Gallery showcases the richness, fineness and beauty of Malay heritage collections known for its emphasis on the harmony of motifs.

Ratna Sari Gallery
The Ratna Sari Gallery displays collections of jewelry, accessories and personal adornments made by expert artisans from various ethnic groups in Malaysia, including the Malays, Chinese and Indians as well as the aboriginal and indigenous communities of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. The masterpieces here are made of gold, silver, copper, plants, beads and other materials. Among the items on display include the headgear, pemeleh (earrings), cucuk sanggul (hair pin), dokoh (necklace with a large concave pendant), pending (large waste buckle made of silver), bracelets, caping (chastity plate, as well as various types of ankle bracelets.

Price/entrance fees

Admission into the museum is free.

▶ KL half day tour – Book today

Opening hours

Open daily from 9.00am to 6.00pm. Closed during Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha.