Page 97 - The Guide To Sarawak

THE GUIDE TO SARAWAK
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A Peranakan-style blouse decorated with keringkam embroidery. This unique style of embroidery is a Sarawak Speciality.
occasions, and elaborately folded as a turban by people of rank. It is also popular as a wall decoration. As a Muslim art form,
it features geometric patterns
of flowers, rosettes, stars and stripes in the design and is devoid of any animal
costumes and official uniforms incorporating local motifs.
Keringkam Embroidery
Keringkam embroidery
is a unique and precious part of Sarawak’s Malay heritage. Fine gold or silver thread is used to embroider voile fabric to make head- coverings, and also to decorate other garments. The yarn is made of soft metal plated with gold or silver, using very complex patterns and requiring great skill. Bamboo shoot or triangle motifs are used along the edge of the selendang (scarf or shawl) or selayah (veil). Red, black, white, cream and green are popular colours, with a deep maroon the most traditional. Keringkam pieces are mostly worn to cover the head, especially during marriage and engagement ceremonies.
Batik & Kain Songket
Kain Songket is a traditional hand-woven brocade
of gold or silver threads combined with fine cotton or silk weft threads, a legacy of the ancient Srivijaya Empire. It is worn by Malay and Melanau men as an outer wrap to the traditional baju Melayu on ceremonial
A colourful batik fabric incorporating a traditional Orang Ulu hornbill motif.
or human depictions. This elegant artistic tradition is being kept alive and well
by the traditional weavers
of Kuala Rejang, as well as Tanoti House, a workshop of young kain songket weavers previously operating under the patronage of
the former Queen of Malaysia, Her Royal Highness Tuanku Nur Zahirah.
Batik in Sarawak
is a new textile technique adopted from West Malaysia and Indonesia. Using mainly the wax outline and brushed- on dye technique, several workshops have been set
up in Sarawak, catering to a local market for unique hand-painted batik
A fine example of kain songket brocade textile produced by the young artisans at Tanoti House, Kuching.