National Textiles Museum (Kuala Lumpur)

 museum, historical building

Address:
National Textiles Museum
Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin
50050 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Phone(s):
(+603) 2694 3455
(+603) 2694 3457
(+603) 2694 3461
Fax: (+603) 2694 3466
Website: www.jmm.gov.my/en/museum/national-textiles-museum

Open Daily 9:00am - 6:00pm
Entrance: Free

Completed in 1896, the Textile Museum is housed in the building which was originally built for the Federated Malay States Railway. The building was designed by the prolific A.B. Hubback and holds the distinctive red and white banding achieved by alternating fairfaced bricks with plastered ones, a style also seen in other buildings such the Masjid Jamek. The main entrance of the Textile Museum comprises two pilasters topped by chatris - the raised onion-shaped domes derived from Mughal architecture of India. On each corner of the building are octogonal towers topped by a concrete dome surrounded by smaller ones.

The building was conserved and refurbished in late 2008 and eventually opened to the public on 9 January 2010. It is currently managed by the Department of Museums, Malaysia (www.jmm.gov.my/). Visitor to this museum can learn the art of batik making and weaving using indigenous materials. The exhibits display samples of textiles of rare historical value and current fashions and designs of the multi-ethnic communities of Malaysia. There is also a fabulous display of gold ornaments and accessories in one of the four galleries found in this museum. Other facilities available here are the Museum Shop, Cafe and a Resource Centre.