Sabah's Chanteek Borneo gets noticed in Singapore

11 August 2024

SINGAPORE : Sabah's Chanteek Borneo and its award-winning founder is being promoted by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew, during the inaugural Borneo Fest 2024 held at the Marina Square, here.

"I am proud to introduce Anne Antah, Sabah's very own textile designer who founded Chanteek Borneo. Chanteek Borneo is a household word in Sabah. It produces a variety of textiles featuring Sabah's ethnic motifs.  

"We have brought Anne all the way from Sabah to showcase her exclusive fashionable wear and accessories for ladies and men. These are made with textiles designed by her," Liew told the Singaporean audience. 

Sabah, the second largest state in Malaysia, is a diverse region it is home to 35 indigenous ethnic groups and 217 ethnic subgroups, highlighting its rich cultural heritage.

During the event, entrepreneur Anne a member of the Sino-Kadazan community, was pleasantly surprised and visibly shy when the Minister acknowledged her, inviting her to stand up and be recognized while delivering the opening speech.

Reflecting on her experience at the Borneo Fest, Anne shared, "Chanteek Borneo's participation in this event marked my inaugural venture, and I was uncertain about what to anticipate. I showcased various fashion products such as cardigans, neckties, and scarves, but the standout item that captivated visitors was the versatile twilly."

The multi-purpose twilly, crafted from 100% silk, is a long and narrow scarf that can be styled in numerous ways.

Anne demonstrated the versatility of the twilly, illustrating how it can be worn in various styles.

"It can be used as a neck scarf, a hair accessory (such as a hair band, ribbon, scarf or tie), a bracelet, or even as a wrap. In Singapore, it's known as a bag tie because it can be attached to a handbag handle," she explained.

She noted that the twilly was a popular choice among attendees at the Borneo Fest.

Visitors to her booth praised the vibrant and colorful nature of the twilly's ethnic

motifs.

"Singaporeans particularly appreciated the colors and presentation, expressing keen interest in purchasing the product in Singapore and inquiring about my future participation in similar expos," she mentioned, expressing gratitude to the Sabah Minister for her support.

"I have yet to find a distributor in Singapore for my products."