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KAIN SONGKET AND SELAYAH

KAIN SONGKET, THE BEAUTIFUL GOLD-PATTERNED HANDDWOVEN CLOTH OF THE MALAYS, WAS THE CUSTOMARY OUTFIT OF WIVES OF LOCAL SARAWAK DIGNITARIES IN THE OLD DAYS; INDEED AS LATE AS THE NINETEEN-SIXTIES, IT WAS COMMON TO SEE SARAWAK MALAY WOMEN, YOUNG AND OLD, DRESSED IN SUCH A KAIN SONGKET, COMPLETE WITH THE SELAYAH (GOLD-EMBROIDERED HEAD SCARF) AT MALAY WEDDINGS AND OTHER IMPORTANT CEREMONIES.

THE SELAYAH IS A HEAD SCARF EMBROIDERED WITH BOTANICAL MOTIFS IN GOLD THREAD. IT IS UNIQUE TO SARAWAK AND BRUNEI. THE TRADITIONAL SELAYAH WAS SHORT, MEASURING ABOUT 54 CM BY 95 CM AND MADE OF A THIN TRANSPARENT VOILE OR SYNTHETIC CLOTH.

THE PRODUCTION OF SARAWAK KAIN SONGKET SEEMS TO HAVE BEGUN SOME TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, POSSIBLY THROUGH THE INFLUENCE OF TRADERS WAS INTRODUCED DIFFERENT TYPES OF YARN AND NEW WEAVING TECHNIQUES. AT ONE TIME THE SKILL OF SONGKET WEAVING WAS WIDESPREAD AMONG MALAY WOMEN ALL ALONG THE COAST OF SARAWAK.

TO-DAY IT IS EASIER TO PURCHASE MASS-PRODUCED KAIN SONGKET FROM PENINSULAR MALAYSIA AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS OF SARAWAK KAIN SONGKET HAVE DWINDLED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE STILL LIVING TODAY IN SARAWAK WOMEN WHO ARE SKILLED IN ITS WEAVING AND WHO CAN TELL US ITS STORY.

TO PROMOTE THIS HERITAGE AN EXHIBITION AND COMPETITION ON KAIN SONGKET AND SELAYAH WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SARAWAK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE SARAWAK MUSEUM AND ATELIER FROM 8 - 22 MARCH 1991. THE PRIZES FOR THE COMPETITION WERE SPONSORED BY PETRONAS.