KUCHING: The special production of Sarawak and Pahang hybrid songket is the brainchild of Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah during her visit to the state in March last year.
According to Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) Commercial, the idea was pursued with the teaching and weaving sessions to produce the special songket in August last year.
The sessions were conducted by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation Sarawak branch while the weavers, who were also inmates from the Puncak Borneo Prison, were taught about ‘Ikat Pakan’, ‘Ikat Loseng’ as well as ‘Ikat Cuai’, under the Malaysian Prisons Department, Sarawak (MyPride) Programme.
In December last year, Raja Permaisuri had the opportunity to see the process up close and admitted that she was excited with the results.
Thus, a total of five songket textiles – weaved and completed by 10 inmates at the prison – were flown to London and are currently on display at the London Craft Week. Among them are the Songket Sarawak Belatak Berikat Cuai (Maroon), Songket Bertabor Berikat Loseng (Gold), Songket Sarawak Berturus Berikat Pakan (Hijau Gold), Songket Sarawak Berturus Berikat Pakan (Purple Silver) and Songket Sarawak Bertabor Pakan (Light Emerald Green).
The beautiful artwork of the textiles also put a smile to the faces of MyPride weavers, further encouraging them to remain dedicated and committed to producing more finely woven songket.
The songket weaving programme at the Puncak Borneo Prison is a collaboration between the Sarawak State Government Secretary’s Office, Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHe), CENTEXS and CENTEXS Commercial.
