KUCHING, May 5: The Sarawak-Pahang hybrid songket weaved by inmates at Puncak Borneo Prison are currently being displayed at London Craft Week.
Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) Commercial said the hybrid songket is the brainchild of Raja Permaisuiri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunaj Iskandariah during her visit to Sarawak in March 2022.
The idea was then pursued with teaching and weaving sessions in August 2022 conducted by the Malaysian Crafts Sarawak Branch.
The inmates under the Malaysian Prison Department, Sarawak (MyPride) programme were taught about ‘Ikat Pakan’, ‘Ikat Loseng’, and ‘Ikat Cuai’.
“In December 2022, the Raja Permaisuri had the opportunity to see the weaving process up close and admitted that she was excited with the results.
“From a strand of thread to a piece of songket cloth, it takes months to be completed by 10 MyPride weavers,” said Centexs Commercial in a statement today.
The songket textiles that are on display in London currently 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 songket weaving programme at Puncak Borneo Prison is a collaboration between the Sarawak State Secretary’s Office, Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHe), Centexs, and Centexs Commercial. — DayakDaily
