Sarawak songket gaining reputation
KUCHING: The states of Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang have always been known to produce the best songket fabric, but many are not aware that Sarawak songket is also gaining reputation in the handicraft trade.
According to Ramtiniwaiti Ramlee of Seri Gedong Songket, initially visitors from other states could not believe that the beautiful handwoven fabric found here were the works of craftsman from Sarawak.
“In Sarawak, people used to refer songket as a piece of cloth (kain) and it had always been called ‘kain belatak’, ‘kain penakan’,’kain berunei’ or ‘kain berturus.’
“However, the songket fabric produced in the state have their own distinctive designs and uniqueness in terms of techniques and motifs when compared with those produced in other states. In fact, we at Seri Gedong Songket also receive orders from songket collectors from the Peninsular,” she told Bernama.
Ramtiniwaiti, 32, who acquired her songket weaving skills while studying at the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, Sarawak and had worked at the Sarawak branch of the Tuanku Nur Zahirah Foundation said the main difference between Sarawak songket and songket of other states lies in the ‘Sifir Sarawak’ technique.
“The songket production process is very much similar. Only the technique differs as here mathematics come into play. Every aspect, including the number of threads on the loom must be counted in coming out with a songket design.
“With Sarawak songket we must ensure that the back of the fabric is also neatly woven by using the hidden thread technique and the special thing about the songket is it can be worn on both sides,” she said.
Keen to keep preserving and reviving this heritage skill, Ramtiniwaiti decided to share her knowledge with eight friends from her village, aged between 20 years to 34 years who are now also her employees. – Bernama