Malaysian textile heritage is getting a modern makeover and this time, it comes in the form of fine jewellery.
SUEN Jewellers has unveiled Tita Collection by SUEN, a 33-piece jewellery collection inspired by the textile, sartorial and jewellery legacy of the late Puan Azah Aziz.
Crafted in 18K gold and diamonds, the collection takes cues from traditional Malaysian textiles, vintage jewellery and Malay dress, reworking familiar patterns, textures and forms into pieces designed for today.
The collection was created by Lee Sze Suen, founder of SUEN Jewellers, as a way to celebrate and continue the work of her mother, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Aziz, in preserving Puan Azah Aziz’s legacy.
Turning Heritage Into Something You Can Wear
The idea behind Tita Collection is pretty straightforward: take elements of Malaysia’s rich textile heritage and give them a new life.
The jewellery draws inspiration from Puan Azah Aziz’s collection of traditional clothing, vintage jewellery and heritage textiles, including pieces such as songket sarongs, Telepuk, Baju Kurung and intricately embroidered Tekat Emas.
Instead of recreating these pieces literally, SUEN translates their patterns, textures and forms into contemporary jewellery.
The result is a collection that can be worn with modern outfits as easily as it can be styled with traditional pieces like tudung, selendang, lapels and collars.
Alongside the fine jewellery, SUEN has also created six heritage-inspired brooches for the Merdeka Textile Museum. The designs reference the traditional role of brooches in Malay dress and draw from batik, traditional wooden ukiran and songket, reinterpreted in gold-plated 925 sterling silver.
Keeping A Mother’s Legacy Alive
For Lee Sze Suen, the collection is also a deeply personal project.
Puan Azah Aziz spent much of her life documenting, collecting and sharing knowledge around Malay textiles, traditional clothing and craftsmanship. Her collection included rare and significant pieces that offered a glimpse into Malaysia’s rich sartorial history.
As part of efforts to preserve her mother’s work, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Aziz donated Puan Azah Aziz’s collection to the Merdeka Textile Museum.
That legacy became the starting point for Tita Collection, with SUEN selecting references from the collection and translating them into jewellery for a new generation.
“Through my conversations with Tan Sri Zeti, I came to understand how much care Puan Azah gave to preserving the knowledge and craftsmanship held within Malaysian textiles and traditional dress,” said Lee Sze Suen, founder of SUEN Jewellers.
“With Tita Collection by SUEN, we have translated selected references from her collection into fine jewellery that can be worn today, giving the new generation a personal way to encounter this heritage.”
More Than Just Jewellery
At its heart, Tita Collection is about making heritage feel relevant beyond museums and history books.
The pieces bring traditional Malaysian motifs and craftsmanship into something people can incorporate into their everyday wardrobe whether that means wearing a statement piece with traditional attire or pairing it with a more contemporary look.
And there’s a social element too.
10% of proceeds from the sale of Tita Collection by SUEN fine jewellery will be donated to Viva Palestina, adding another layer of purpose to the collection.
The Tita Collection by SUEN is available exclusively at SUEN Jewellers.