Connect

Organization of and participation in symposiums, seminars, workshops and other events bringing together craft organizations, artisans, government and private observers, students and other interested parties, with the aim to educate on our craft traditions and heritage, to discuss craft-related issues and to upgrade craft skills amongst both artisans and laypersons.

These include:

  • 1999 - 2019: World Eco-Fiber and Textiles (WEFT) Forum, Malaysia and Taiwan (Co-Organizer)

  • 1999: AHPADA Regional Consultation on the theme “Craft Development in the Coming Decade: Towards a Strategy for Asia”, Malaysia (Organizer)

  • 2004: UNESCO-AHPADA-ASEF Training Workshop on Natural Fiber products, “From Tradition to Innovation: Design Innovation within Traditional Aesthetic Forms”, Thailand (Co-Organizer)

  • 2005: Cheongju International Crafts Symposium, Korea (Speaker)

  • 2006 - 2008: Craft-Net Project: Asia Invest II, conducting capacity building thematic workshops, exchange visits for craftspeople and craft incubators (Partner Organization together with the European Union and the Egnetia Epirus Foundation)

  • 2010: ASEAN Craft Network Forum, Thailand (Organizer)

  • 2011: AHPADA Design and Craft Network Forum, Thailand (Organizer)

  • 2012: World Textiles Symposium, Malaysia (Co-Organizer)

  • 2015: Symposium on “Cultural Identity in ASEAN Handicraft Products (Traditional Textiles and Basketry)”, Thailand (Co-Organizer)

  • 2016 - 2018: Jogjakarta International Batik Biennale, Indonesia (Co-Organizer)

  • 2016 - 2017: ASEAN Craft Masters Program (Organizer)

  • 2016 - 2019: World Ikat Textiles Symposium (WITS), United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia (Co-Organizer)

  • 2017: “The Transformation of Natural Dye to Lake Pigment for Textile Printing and Dyeing” natural dye workshop, Thailand (Co-Organizer)

  • 2017 - 2019: Tree of Life Exhibition and Symposium, Malaysia, India, USA, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand (Co-Organizer)

  • 2018: Asian Textiles Exhibition and Seminar, Museum Tekstil Jakarta, Indonesia (Speaker)

  • 2019: One Craft One Gold Seminar, Thailand (Participant)

  • 2019: International Conference on Southeast Asian Crafts and Folk Art, Philippines (Participant)

  • 2021: Fiber Links - Taiwan and ASEAN Fiber Craft Online Co-Creation Project (Co-Organizer)

  • 2023: Atelier-AHPADA Forum: Crafting the Next Generation (Co-Organizer)

Showcase

Participation in exhibitions, trade fairs and other events showcasing Southeast Asian craft products, including Seal/ Award of Excellence winners, and artisans. These include:

  • 2004: “The Best of ASEAN” exhibition and sales promotion, Malaysia (Organizer)

  • 2005: AHPADA - Asian Fashion Show, Thailand (Co-Organizer)

  • 2005: Bangkok International Gifts (BIG) Fair, Thailand (Participant)

  • 2006: AHPADA Seal of Excellence Showcase, Thailand (Organizer)

  • 2006: “Naturally, ASEAN” exhibition in conjunction with the … Naturally International Symposium/ Workshop on Natural Dyes, India (Participant)

  • 2007 - 2011: AHPADA International Arts and Crafts Expos, Philippines and Thailand (Organizer)

  • 2007: Maison & Objet, France (Participant)

  • 2008: “World Eco-Fiber and Textile Art” exhibition, Japan (Co-Organizer)

  • 2008 - 2019: ASEAN section coordinator at UNESCO Seal/ World Crafts Council Award of Excellence Booth, Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, USA (Participant)

  • 2016 - 2017: Manila FAME, Philippines (Participant)

  • 2017 - 2019, 2023: INACRAFT, Indonesia (Participant)

  • 2018: Autumn Fair, United Kingdom (Participant)

  • 2018: Jakarta Eco-Fashion Week, Indonesia (Participant)

  • 2015 - 2018: International Innovative Craft Fair, Thailand (Participant)

  • 2018: International Crafts Festival, Oman (Participant)

  • 2019, 2023: Craft Bangkok, Thailand (Participant)

  • 2019: Kokand International Crafters Festival, Uzbekistan (Participant)

  • 2019: Crafting Artistry - A Journey along the Maritime Silk & Spice Road, Malaysia (Supporting Organization)

  • 2020: Selvedge Virtual World Fair, United Kingdom (Participant)

  • 2020: Aspara Fashion Week, Kazakhstan (Participant)

  • 2021: TENUN Fashion Week, Malaysia (Co-Organizer)

Recognise

AHPADA, initiated in 2001, the UNESCO - AHPADA Seal of Excellence (SoE), to enhance international awareness of Southeast Asian handicrafts. The SoE serves as a quality control mechanism and marketing device for the promotion of handmade traditional and/ or innovative craft products which conform to rigorous standards of cultural, environmental and production excellence. It is awarded to specific craft products and product lines, made from materials including natural fibres, wood, metal, stone or ceramics, grown or manufactured in the countries of ASEAN.

The SoE was renamed the Award of Excellence (AoE) in 2010 and has been administered by the World Crafts Council since 2014. AHPADA Board Members regularly feature in the Southeast Asia adjudication panel as well as for other geographies to which the award has been rolled out to. Jury sessions for Southeast Asian products were previously held in Bangkok between 2001 - 2008, Jakarta in 2010, Kuching in 2012, Jakarta in 2014, Kuwait City in 2016 and most recently, Jakarta in 2018.

AHPADA member organizations have also been instrumental in the submission of Southeast Asian applications for the honor of World Craft Cities awarded by WCC-APR, with AHPADA Board Members also serving on these adjudication panels.

In 2023, AHPADA was co-producer of the inaugural Hasanah Gold Threads Awards in Malaysia, to recognize excellent producers of Malaysian heritage textiles. Southeast Asian craftspeople nominated and advocated for by the organization attained the accreditation of Asia-Pacific Crafts Masters by the WCC-APR.