SONGKET...

Before, I have shared with you about batik and now, I want share about songket. Many people have the notion that songket is only meant for Malay wedding costumes. It is not so. Songket actually can be used for various kinds of fashion according to the taste of the designers. The songket cloth is a little heavier than batik. This is due to the weaving of gold threads that shape the patterns and designs of the basic cloth. Since the traditional method of weaving is done, it takes days for a high quality songket to be completed. That is why a songket costs more.

Most Malays have songket as part of their traditional dress. The songket is only worn on official functions or attending wedding ceremonies. But now songket material is used as decorations on the walls, also made into beautiful handbags and other products.

You can see how songket weaving is done when you visit Kelantan or Terengganu. These two states have become the centre of the songket cottage industry. They produce mostly for the local market.