Songket (2021)

The Royal Weave of Gold and Legacy

Songket is a luxurious handwoven fabric that embodies the opulence and artistry of traditional Malay culture. Woven with silk or cotton threads and intricately interlaced with shimmering gold or silver metallic threads, Songket textiles are renowned for their radiant patterns and regal elegance. Historically reserved for royalty and nobility, Songket garments were worn during grand ceremonies, weddings, and official functions, symbolizing status, heritage, and grace. The name "songket" itself is derived from the Malay word sungkit, meaning “to pick,” which refers to the technique of picking threads to create the ornate designs—often floral or geometric motifs influenced by nature and spirituality.

Each piece of Songket can take weeks or even months to complete, requiring incredible skill, patience, and precision. Crafted predominantly by Malay women in rural communities, especially in states like Kelantan and Terengganu, Songket weaving is also a form of communal storytelling, with each pattern preserving generations of cultural symbolism and tradition.