KUCHING: Ramtiniwati Ramlee left her village for the city to seek better prospects after completing her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) nearly two decades ago.
Her journey led her to what would later become a successful — and meaningful — career. In 2006, she came across a songket weaving course organised by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation.
“Initially, I didn’t really know what the course was about when I enrolled. I just wanted to learn something new for fun but the nine-month programme had taught me more than just weaving skills. I also learned about the rich history of songket,” she told New Sarawak Tribune recently.
“I discovered my passion and I had this desire to preserve the art of songket weaving, which is 100 per cent done manually in the traditional way with a handloom.”
After completed the course, Ramtiniwati received an offer to work at the Tuanku Nur Zahirah Foundation, Sarawak branch.
She spent four years there before joining Tanoti for a year, where she further enhanced her skills.
Seri Gedong Songket
In 2013, she decided to return to her village to continue songket weaving based on orders. However, she soon discovered that this endeavour was no ‘one-man show’ – fulfilling orders was a huge challenge.
“So, I took the bold move and founded Seri Gedong Songket in 2016, a weaving centre in Kampung Gedong in Simunjan, where our songket weavers are from the local community or villages nearby.
“Apart from offering them an avenue to earn a living, they can continue to improve their skills and knowledge. Currently, we have 11 weavers, aged between 19 and 38,” Ramtiniwati said, adding that the songket they produced are priced between RM1,800 and RM15,000 and above.
The price, she explained, was determined based on the cost of raw materials, time, motifs and techniques (complexity) used to produce each fabric.
More new and creative songket weavers
The 36-year-old award-winning songket weaver is determined to inspire more young people to learn the skill to ensure Sarawak’s stunning songket is known across the country and internationally
“We need to have more new weavers, fresh ideas, for example, to combine the handwoven fabric with traditional patterns or motifs with trendy colours. We need to have something more contemporary, which will also attract the young generation to become songket weavers,” she opined.
“We want to ensure Sarawak’s songket is well known among Malaysians, especially in Peninsular Malaysia and globally.”
When asked about Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s proposal to set up songket centres throughout the state to promote and elevate Sarawak songket globally, Ramtiniwati welcomed this enthusiastically.
“Our songket is unique as it is made using a technique called ‘Tapok’ in which the thread is hidden behind the patterns – this is totally different compared to songket made in other states in the country.
“The technique is to ensure no thread would be hanging at the back of the fabric, allowing both sides of the songket to be used. So we must promote and preserve this,” she stressed.
Sarawak songket as a global product
In order to elevate Sarawak songket as a global product, she said it was important to prioritise grooming more skilful and creative weavers to produce high quality songket to stay competitive in the international market.
“The government and non-governmental organisations play an important role in promoting songket weaving as a promising and bright career and to entice more youths by organising more programmes and events.
“I believe awareness programmes to educate the public on the history of songket and how important it is to preserve the art of songket weaving can also instil interest in the young generation to take up the challenge of mastering this skill,” she said.
“Otherwise, the songket industry will be facing various challenges such as decreasing number of new and young weavers due to lack of interest or knowledge, and the mass production and manufacturing of songket using machines instead of it being 100 per cent handwoven.”
Ramtiniwati, who has 17 years of experience under her belt, recently won the Young Craft Entrepreneur Award 2022, an award from the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, and Prisons Commissioner General Medal (Second Class).
She also won the SMART Community Award (Platinum) 2018, Young Entrepreneur Award 2018 by Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation in conjunction with National Craft Day 2018, and SEDC Successful Entrepreneurs Award, a recognition from the state Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Sarawak Emerging Community of Crafts) 2019.
