Batik and Songket

Songket is fabric which belongs to the brocade family of textiles. It is hand woven in silk or cotton, and intricately patterned with gold or silver threads. The metallic threads stand out on the background cloth to create a shimmering effect. In the weaving process the metallic threads are inserted in between the silk or cotton weft (latitudinal) threads of the main background cloth. The term 'songket' comes from the Malay word menyongket, ‘to embroider with gold or silver threads’. Songket is traditionally worn during ceremonial occasions.