Songket

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Groep vrouwen in adatkostuum uit Batipoe di Atas in de Padangse Bovenlanden Sumatra`s Westkust TMnr 60003600.jpg highlands of West Sumatra, circa 1895]]

The term songket derived from the Malay word of sungkit, which means "to hook". It is referred to the method of songket making; to hook and pick a group of threads, and then slip the gold and silver threads in it.{{cite news|author=Diaz, Anton|title=Songket Palembang, Busana dan Aksesori Nusantara|magazine=National Geographic Traveller Indonesia|volume=1|issue=6|date=2009|location=Jakarta, Indonesia|page= 63|language= id}} Another theory suggested that it was constructed from the combination of two terms, tusuk (prick) and cukit (pick), that combined as sukit, modified further as sukit and finally songket.{{cite web|url= http://melayuonline.com/eng/culture/dig/555/songket-weaving-of-palembang-south-sumatra|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100129171455/http://melayuonline.com/eng/culture/dig/555/songket-weaving-of-palembang-south-sumatra|url-status= dead|archive-date= January 29, 2010|title= Songket Weaving of Palembang, South Sumatra|publisher= Melayu Online|access-date =December 17, 2013}} Some says that the word songket was derived from songka, a Palembang cap in which gold threads was first woven.{{cite book |last1=Rodgers |first1=Susan |last2=Summerfield |first2=Anne |last3=Summerfield |first3=John |title=Gold Cloths of Sumatra: Indonesia's Songkets from Ceremony to Commodity |date=2007 |publisher=Cantor Art Callery |location=Worcester, Massachusetts |isbn=978-9067183123 |url=https://brill.com/view/title/23122?language=en |access-date=19 October 2022}} The earliest confirmable written proof of this clothing in Malay texts always mentioned sungkit instead of songket, for example the Hikayat Aceh of 1620s and Hikayat Banjar of 1660s.For the chronological appearance of the word songket or sungkit, see [https://mcp.anu.edu.au/Q/texts.html Malay Concordance Project]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809133732/https://mcp.anu.edu.au/Q/texts.html|date=9 August 2022}}.

The Malay word menyongket means ‘to embroider with gold or silver threads’.{{cite web| title=Menyongket | publisher= Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP)| url=http://prpm.dbp.gov.my/cari1?keyword=menyongket | language = ms| access-date = 4 March 2018}} Songket is a luxury product traditionally worn during ceremonial occasions as sarong, shoulder cloths or head ties and tanjak, a headdress songket. Songket were worn at the courts of Kingdoms in Sumatra especially the Srivijaya, as the source and the origin of Malay culture in Southeast Asia.{{cite web|url=http://www.puratanjungsabtu.com/PTSsongket.html|title=The Art of Songket|website=puratanjungsabtu.com|access-date=9 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126111828/http://www.puratanjungsabtu.com/PTSsongket.html|archive-date=26 January 2008}} In the early kingdom age, Songkets are also traditionally worn as an apparel by the Malay royal families in Sumatra such as the Deli Sultanate in Medan, Serdang Sultanate, Palembang Sultanate in Palembang and the recently restored royal house in Jambi and sultanates in Malay Peninsula such as Pattani, Kelantan and Terengganu.{{cite web|url=http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0720&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Feminin&pg=fe_01.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816214756/http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0720&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Feminin&pg=fe_01.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2016|title=Sentuhan songket diraja|website=Utusan Online|access-date=9 April 2018}} The fabric is even mandated as part of the ceremonial court dress of Bruneian royalty since the time of Omar Ali Saifuddien III.{{cite conference|author=Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah|date=3–5 Dec 2007|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265336001 |title=Tamadun Brunei dan Kewujudan Seni Tenun |language=ms|conference=Seminar Sejarah Borneo, Pemeliharaan Sejarah Borneo dan Tamadun Borneo: Ke Arah Pengukuhan Negara Bangsa|location= Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam|doi=10.13140/2.1.4659.1363}} Traditionally women are the weavers of songket, however in this modern time men also are known to weave it as well.

Songket is known in many names in vernacular Indonesian languages. Other than in Sumatra and Malay peninsula, it is also commonly known as songket in Bali and Java. While it is known as songke in Manggarai, Flores, and Bima in Sumbawa. The Karo Batak of North Sumatra, call it jongkit. People in Ternate, Maluku, call it suje, while the Buginese in South Sulawesi call it subbi’ and arekare’ and the Iban Dayak in West Kalimantan and Sarawak call it pilih or pileh.

File:Aesan Gede Songket Palembang.jpg Aesan Gede wedding costume, South Sumatra]]

Songket weaving traditions at first, historically associated with Srivijaya empire,{{cite web|url=http://beta.antaranews.com/berita/1279268106/the-ancient-sriwijaya-heritage-tampilkan-kemilau-songket-dan-adat-perkawinan-sumsel|title=The Ancient Sriwijaya Heritage" Featuring Glimpse of Songket in Traditional Southern Sumatra Wedding Ceremony|publisher=Antara|date=2010-07-26|access-date=2022-04-04}}{{Cite news | author = Sriwijaya Post | title = Motif Abstrak Songket palembang | url = http://palembang.tribunnews.com/2011/12/21/motif-abstrak-songket-palembang | publisher = Sriwijaya Post | access-date = 2012-01-16 | language = id }} a wealthy 7th to 13th-century maritime trading empire based on Sumatra. Palembang{{Cite web |author=Ahmad Ibo| title=Menilik Keindahan Kain Songket Palembang yang Tersohor |url=https://indonesiakaya.com/pustaka-indonesia/menilik-keindahan-kain-songket-palembang-yang-tersohor/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=Indonesia Kaya|language=id}} and Minangkabau Pandai Sikek area are the best and the most famous songket producers in Indonesia.{{Cite web | title=Tenun Pandai Sikek, Kemewahan Dalam Sepotong Kain|url=https://indonesiakaya.com/pustaka-indonesia/kharisma-elegan-tenun-songket-dari-pandai-sikek/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=Indonesia Kaya|language=id}} According to a Palembang folk tradition that has been narrated for generations, the origin of songket came from the Chinese traders who brought silk threads, while the Indian or Middle Eastern traders brought gold threads. Subsequently, the woven combination has become the exquisitely shimmering golden songket. It associated with areas of Malay settlement in Sumatra, and the production techniques could have been introduced by Indian or Arab merchants.

Songket is a luxurious textile that required some amount of real gold leaves and gold threads to be hand-woven into exquisite fabrics, surely it has become a symbol of luxury and social status. Historically the gold mines are located in Sumatra hinterland; Jambi and Minangkabau Highlands.{{Cite journal |last=Miksic |first=John M. |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/befeo_0336-1519_1985_num_74_1_1677 |title=Traditional Sumatran Trade|journal=Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient |publisher=l'École française d'Extrême-Orient via Persée|date=1985|volume=74 |pages= 423–467|doi=10.3406/befeo.1985.1677 }}{{rp|page=451}} Although gold threads were found buried in the Srivijaya ruins in Sumatra, along with unpolished rubies and pieces of gold plate, there is no corroborating evidence that the local weavers used gold threads as early as 7th century to early 8th century.

Based on archaeological data, it can be seen that songket has been known by the people of South Sumatra between the 8th to the 9th century CE,{{Cite web |last=Fajriansyah |first=Adrian |date=2019-10-19 |title=Jejak Asal Songket Sumatera Selatan|url=https://www.kompas.id/baca/gaya-hidup/2019/10/20/jejak-asal-songket-sumsel |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=kompas.id |language=id}} as seen in ancient statues cloths motifs from the site of the Bumiayu temple complex in Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia.{{Cite journal|title=Sejarah songket berdasarkan data arkeologi|trans-title=The History of Songket Based on Archaeological Data|journal=Siddhayatra|volume=21|issue=2|year=2016|first1=Retno|last1=Purwanti|first2=Sondang Martini|last2=Siregar|doi=10.24832/siddhayatra.v21i2.22|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |url=https://garuda.kemdikbud.go.id/documents/detail/971258| language = id }}{{cite web|url=https://exploresouthsumatra.com/2021/02/18/songket-at-bumiayu-temple-arca/|title=Songket at Bumiayu Temple Arca|date=2021-02-18|access-date=2021-12-21|website=southsumatratourism|first=William|last=Mikha}} At that time the use of songket was reserved only for the nobility, as seen from the statues which were probably the deified personification of a king. The evidence for the existence of songket can be seen on the lepus motifs found on the vest worn by Figure 1 at the Bumiayu temple complex. The use of lepus motif shows the continuity of that motif that has been around since the 9th century.

The description of textiles reminiscent of songket can be found in 10th century Chinese source from Song dynasty. According to this Song chronicle, in 992 the envoy from She-po (Java) arrived in Chinese court bearing a lot of gifts, consists of silk "woven with floral motifs made of gold threads", ivories, pearls, silk of various colours, fragrant sandalwood, cotton clothes of various colours, turtle shells, betel nut preparation kit, kris dagger with exquisite hilt made of rhino horn and gold, rattan mat with the image of white cockatoo, and a small model of house made of sandalwood adorned with valuable ornaments.{{cite book|last1=Poesponegoro|first1=Marwati Djoened|last2=Notosusanto|first2=Nugroho.|year=2008|title=Sejarah Nasional Indonesia II: Zaman Kuno|location=Jakarta|publisher=Balai Pustaka}}{{rp|199}}

File:Stone statue of Durga.jpg from 13th century Singhasari temple shows the sash is carved with "star flower" motifs, a pattern that continues today in songket design]]

Studies of Javanese statues dated from Indonesian Hindu-Buddhist period between 8th to 15th centuries provides a glimpse of the fashion during that period. These statues were decorated elaborately including textiles pattern. The details of kain lower garment of Durga Mahisasuramardini form the 13th-century Singhasari temple near Malang, shows elaborately carved tassels which suggests goldwork decoration. The costume is completed with two sashes draped over the legs carved with bunga bintang or "star flower" motifs, a pattern that continues today in songket design. The precision of stone carved textile suggests the designs are unlikely an invention of sculptor's imagination, and more likely to have replicated a cloth that existed at the time.{{rp|154}}

Various Chinese and Arab accounts mentioned the presence of textiles produced within the region and emphasized the prevalence of weaving in the Malay Peninsula.{{rp|19}} According to Kelantan tradition this weaving technique came from the north, somewhere in the Cambodia-Siam region and expanded south into Pattani, and finally reach the Malay court of Kelantan and Terengganu as early as the 16th century.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AazYAAAAMAAJ&q=songket+pattani+malaysia|title=Songket: Malaysia's Woven Treasure|first=Grace Inpam|last=Selvanayagam|date=9 April 1990|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780195889284|access-date=9 April 2018|via=Google Books}} The weaving of songket continues as a small cottage industry on the outskirts of Kota Bharu and Terengganu.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=un4WcfEASZwC&q=songket+pattani+malaysia&pg=RA1-PA447|title=The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture|first1=Jonathan M.|last1=Bloom|first2=Sheila S.|last2=Blair|date=9 April 2018|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780195309911|access-date=9 April 2018|via=Google Books}} However, Terengganu weavers believe that songket weaving technique was introduced to Malaysia from India through Sumatra's Palembang and Jambi where it probably originated during the time of Srivijaya (7th to 11th century). Nevertheless, Zani Bin Ismail put forth the argument that the origins of songket can be traced to China and subsequently spread to Indochina, including Cambodia and Thailand. His assertion was based on the similarities observed in the handweaving looms of Terengganu, Cambodia, and Thailand.{{cite book|title=Rampaian seni Terengganu : songket, tarian piring, mandi sapat, silat kura-kura|publisher=Jabatan Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan, Negeri Terengganu|year=2004|isbn=9832579023|first=Zani|last=bin Ismail|language=ms}}

Another possible of origin of songket based on Liang dynasty record (502-557) is from Langkasuka kingdom, an ancient kingdom dressed in the Malay Peninsula. It's King dressed ‘rose-colored cloth with gold flowers’, which could have been a songket of some kind, as red is traditional color of Songket.{{cite book|last=Pullen|first=Lesley S|year=2021|title=Patterned Splendour: Textiles Presented on Javanese Metal and Stone Sculptures, Eighth to Fifteenth Centuries|location=Singapore|publisher=ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute|isbn=9789814881852}}{{rp|34}}

Much documentation is sketchy about the origins of the songket but it is most likely that songket weaving was brought to Peninsular Malaysia through intermarriages between royal families. This was a common occurrence in the 15th century for sealing strategic alliances. Production was located in politically significant kingdoms because of the high cost of materials; the gold thread used was originally wound with real gold leaf.

The use of songket vest with lepus motif as described in the statue of the Bumiayu temple, was also popular during the Islamic Palembang Sultanate period from the 16th to 19th centuries, and limited only for the upper class of the society. After the collapse of the sultanate, songket began to spread among non-aristocrats.

Songket as king's dress was also mentioned by Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir writings in 1849.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VihYSsllnjQC&q=berkain+songket+dan+berbaju+sikap+dan&pg=PA338|title=Hikayat Abdullah|first=Hamzah|last=Hamdani|date=9 April 2018|publisher=PTS Pop|isbn=9789831920800|access-date=9 April 2018|via=Google Books}}

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Minangkabausche huwelijksplechtigheid te Padangpandjang West-Sumatra TMnr 10003071.jpg wedding ceremony using songket Minangkabau cloth in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra, late 19th century]]

Songket is traditionally considered an exquisite, luxurious and prestigious traditional fabric, only worn for special occasions, religious festivals, and traditional social functions. It has become a required garment for brides and grooms for their weddings, as in the traditional wedding costumes of Palembangese, Minangkabau and Balinese people.{{cite news | title = Sojourn: Klungkung market – 'A go-to place for cloth lovers' | newspaper = The Jakarta Post | date = 28 January 2016 | author = I Wayan Juniarta | url = http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/01/28/sojourn-klungkung-market-a-go-place-cloth-lovers.html}}

In Indonesian tradition, songket has become a marker of social status. Traditionally a certain songket motif is reserved for particular social status. For example in Palembang songket tradition, the lepus motifs were originally reserved only for bangsawan (royalty, nobles or aristocrats).{{Cite web |date=2019-01-24 |title=Mengenal Songket, Kain Menawan dari Palembang | website=Budaya.co |url=https://budaya.co/songket-dari-palembang/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |language=id}} Indeed songket is employed as the social marker of the wearer, even as far as to inform the marital status of the wearer. In old Palembang, widows wore outstanding selendang (shoulder cloth) songket to disclose their social and marital status. There are two kinds of specific songket motifs for widows; those for widows eligible for remarriage is called songket janda berias (dress up widow songket),{{Cite web |author = Unit Pengelola Museum Seni, Dinas Kebudayaan Provinsi DKI Jakarta| title=Woven Tales of Indonesia : Songket Palembang |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/story/woven-tales-of-indonesia-songket-palembang/pwUhhHL_VR8VOw |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}} and those for widow brides is called songket janda pengantin (widow bride songket).{{Cite web |title=Widow Bride Songket |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/widow-bride-songket/QwFJhE50VIVISA |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Google Arts & Culture |language=en}}

Today, songket are usually made from affordable materials, such as using artificial gold threads made of nylon instead of pure gold threads. Nevertheless, there are few rare songket that is actually made from real gold threads. These are precious textiles that are held as pusaka or heirloom passed down for generations within a family.{{Cite news |author=Tyas Ing Kalbu|date=23 February 2021|title=Songket, Kain Berharga yang Diwariskan Turun-temurun |url=https://klasika.kompas.id/baca/songket-kain-berharga-yang-diwariskan-turun-temurun/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Kompas.id |language=id}}

File:Hoofddoek Setangan lepus limar, AK-MAK-1742-97.jpg ]]

Today, songket is mostly worn in traditional settings as traditional costumes for weddings or any traditional ceremonies. Several efforts has been conducted to promote songket as a popular fabric for fashion, either locally and abroad. During the Dutch colonial era, West Sumatran songket were exhibited in the Netherlands. The Sawahlunto Songket Carnival was held in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra in August 2015. The songket carnival featured a parade and exhibition with participants from numbers of songket studios across West Sumatra. The carnival, held on 28 August 2015, was recorded in the Indonesian Museum of Records for the most people wearing songket at a same time, with 17,290 people wearing Silungkang songket during the event.{{cite news | title = Government urged to promote 'songket' after success with batik | author = Syofiardi Bachyul Jb | newspaper = The Jakarta Post | date = 31 August 2015| url = http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/31/govt-urged-promote-songket-after-success-with-batik.html}}

Several exhibitions has been held to preserve and promote the traditional art of songket making, such as the songket exhibition held in 2015 by Jakarta Textile Museum, which showcased around 100 pieces of songket from various Indonesian provinces.{{cite news | title = Jakarta Textile Museum hosts songket exhibition | newspaper = The Jakarta Post | location = Jakarta | date = 19 August 2015| url = http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/19/jakarta-textile-museum-hosts-songket-exhibition.html}}

Today, songket has become a source of inspiration for contemporary fashion designers who draw ideas from this traditional art.{{cite news | title = Fashion Flair: Reinventing Indonesian fabrics for today | newspaper = The Jakarta Post | date = 27 August 2016 | author = Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak | url = http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/08/27/fashion-flair-reinventing-indonesian-fabrics-today.html}}

Songket Minangkabau is a traditional songket woven cloth from West Sumatra that is an important part of cultural identity in the Minangkabau tradition. Songket is closely related to the Minangkabau community because it has been widely used as a material for traditional clothing and other traditional core crafts. There are various types of Minangkabau songket motifs and philosophies, each motif passed down from generation to generation for use in the Pepatih custom.

The history of the Songket Minangkabau itself comes from the Srivijaya which was then developed through the Sumatran kingdom until it finally entered the Minang realm. Songket was created as a means of expression because the Minang people in ancient times could not write and finally they also expressed their feelings into songket so that each songket has a different meaning.

As a characteristic of cloth in Minangkabau, the famous songket cloth in West Sumatra is Songket Pandai Sikek and Songket Silungkang. The names of the two songkets are taken from the name of the place where this songket comes from, namely Pandai Sikek in Tanah Datar and Silungkang in Sawahlunto.

Songket Minangkabau is a unique traditional art form. This weaving art is quite complicated and requires precision and perseverance in the weaving process. In addition, the ornaments or motifs of Minangkabau songket are not just decorations or ornaments. Minangkabau songket motifs or decorations each have a name and meaning, namely about the journey of Minangkabau culture and society. Songket Minangkabau motifs are displayed in the form of natural symbols, especially plants, which are rich in explicit and implied meanings. Songket motifs are often named after plants, animals or objects in the natural environment. For example, Bungo Malur, Kudo-Kudo,Balapak Gadang, Ranggo Patai Pucuak,Pucuak,Pucuak kelapa, and many more. The decorative motifs on the edge of the songket cloth are also named, such as Bungo Tanjung, Lintahu Ayahah, Bareh Diatua, Ula Gerang , and others. Like the motifs of Batik which are full of meaning, the Silungkang songket motifs are also studded with philosophy.

The motif of Kaluak Paku (the curve of a young fern shoot) means "Before correcting others, we should look inside ourselves first". While the Ilalang Rabah motif (falling down) means "Vigilance, prudence and accuracy of a leader are the main things".

The most popular and sacred motif for the Minangkabau community is the Pucuk Rebung motif or in the local language called Pucuak Rabuang symbolizing a useful life throughout. It all appears in the evolution of bamboo shoots (Bambu muda) to aging which reflects the process of human life towards a useful person.{{citation|url=http://repository.unp.ac.id/20889/1/Songket%20Minangkabau%20Sebagai%20Kajian%20ok.pdf|title=Songket Minangkabau Sebagai Kajian Seni Rupa|work=repository.unp}}{{citation|url=https://www.goodnewsfromindonesia.id/2021/10/05/kain-songket-pandai-sikek-jenis-tenun-klasik-dan-mewah-dari-minangkabau|title=Kain Songket Pandai Sikek, Jenis Tenun Klasik dan Mewah dari Minangkabau|work=goodnewsfromindonesia}}{{citation|url=https://ejournal.upgrisba.ac.id/index.php/jurnal-mamangan/article/view/1189|title=Sejarah Dan Nilai Songket Pandai Sikek|work=ejournal.upgrisba|date=2015 |doi=10.22202/mamangan.v4i1.1189 |last1=Devi |first1=Silvia |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=17–28 |doi-access=free }}

File:KITLV - 10836 - Kurkdjian - Soerabaja - Female songket weaver from Surabaya at the pasar malam in Surabaya - 1905-1906.tif Surabaya circa 1905, Dutch East Indies]]

File:Manuriang.jpg]]

There are two categories of songket weaving equipments; the main weaving equipment made from wooden or bamboo frame; and the supporting equipment which includes thread stretching tool, motif making tool, thread inserting and picking tools. The materials for making songket consist of cotton or silk threads or other fibers as the base fabric and decoration threads made from golden, silver or silk threads. It is believed that in ancient times, real gold threads were used to create songket; the cotton threads were run along heated liquid gold, coating the cotton and creating gold thread. However today because the scarcity and the expensiveness of real gold threads, imitation gold or silver threads are commonly used instead.

The songket technique itself involves the insertion of decorative threads in between the wefts as they are woven into the warp, which is fixed to the loom. They are inserted as part of the weaving process, but not necessary in the making of the cloth. There are four types of supplementary weft weaving technique: continuous, discontinuous, inlaid and wrapped.

Songket weaving is done in two stages, weaving the basic cloth with even or plain weaving and weaving the decoration inserted into basic cloth, this method is called "inlay weaving system". The shining gold, silver or silk threads were inserted and woven into the plain weave base cloth in certain motifs, creating a shimmering effect of golden pattern against darker plain background. Songket weaving is traditionally done as a part-time job by young girls and older women in between their daily domestic chores. The complicated process of songket making is believed to cultivate virtues, as it reflects the values of diligence, carefulness and patience.

There are hundreds of songket motifs. In Palembang tradition, songket is inseparable from the lives of the people who wear it during important events such as births, marriages, and death. Palembang songket recognises several types of songket patterns; they are lepus, tretes, limar, tawur, bungo, and rumpak songkets. Examples of Palembang songket motifs are naga besaung, pucuk rebung, biji pare, bintang berante, bintang kayu apuy, bungo mawar, bungo melati, bungo cino, bungo jepang, bungo intan, bungo pacik, cantik manis, lepus berakam, pulir, nampan perak, tabur limar and tigo negeri.

File:Traditional sasak weaving.jpg traditional songket, Lombok]]

In Indonesia, songket is produced in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Bali, Sulawesi, Lombok and Sumbawa. In Sumatra the famous songket production centers is in Minangkabau Pandai Sikek in Tanah Datar Regency,{{cite web|url=http://melayuonline.com/ind/culture/dig/1589|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122130939/http://melayuonline.com/ind/culture/dig/1589|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 22, 2010|title=Tenun Songket Pandai Sikek (Sumatera Barat - Indonesia) - Melayu Online|language=id|website=melayuonline.com|access-date=9 April 2018}} and Koto Gadang in Agam Regency, also Silungkang area in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, Jambi City, Jambi and Palembang, South Sumatra. In Bali, songket production villages can be found in Klungkung regency, especially at Sidemen and Gelgel village.{{cite news|author=Suardana, Kartika |title=Songket Bali, Busana dan Aksesori Nusantara|magazine=National Geographic Traveller Indonesia|volume=1|issue=6|date=2009|location=Jakarta, Indonesia|page= 62|language= id}} The Klungkung Market is a popular spot to shop Balinese songket, as it offers wide collection of this traditional fabrics.

While in the neighboring island of Lombok, the Sukarara village in Jonggat district, Central Lombok regency, is also famous for songket making.{{cite news|author=Ukirsari, Manggalani L.|title=Songket Lombok, Busana dan Aksesori Nusantara|magazine=National Geographic Traveller Indonesia|volume=1|issue=6|date=2009|location=Jakarta, Indonesia|page= 62|language= id}} In this village, learning how to weave a good songket is an obligation for the Sasak women. Weaving songket is usually done by women during their spare time, and subsequently this traditional skill has enabled them to earn money for their family.{{cite news | title = Women, weaving and delopement in Lombok | author = Afrida, Nani | newspaper = The Jakarta Post | date = 22 April 2013| url = http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/04/22/women-weaving-and-elopement-lombok.html |access-date=31 October 2016}}

In Malaysia production area included the east coast of the Malay Peninsula{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5Te9LWyzQvYC&q=songket+terengganu&pg=PA137|title=The Malay Handloom Weavers: A Study of the Rise and Decline of Traditional Manufacture|first=Maznah|last=Mohamad|date=9 April 1996|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies|isbn=9789813016996|access-date=9 April 2018|via=Google Books}} especially in the city of Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu and the Kota Bharu, Kelantan.{{cite journal |last=Uchino |first=Megumi |title=Socio-cultural history of Palembang Songket |journal=Indonesia and the Malay World |volume=33 |issue=96 |pages=205–223 |date=July 2005 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.1080/13639810500283985|s2cid=143749412 }}

File:Songket-weefster op Sumatra's Westkust KITLV 84856.tiff|Songket weaver in West Sumatra {{circa|1890}}

File:KITLV - 94274 - Demmeni, J. - Minangkabau women in songket attire on Sumatra's west coast - circa 1915.tif|Minangkabau women in songket attire at Sumatra's west coast {{circa|1915|lk=no}}

File:Minangkabau wedding 2.jpg|Songket Minangkabau traditional wedding costumes from Minangkabau, West Sumatra

File:Lombok Wedding Party 1998.jpg|A Lombok wedding party using songket. In Lombok, most weddings are held during the month of April, and the parades are held on Sunday, West Nusa Tenggara.

File:Mangumpa Banang.jpg|The stage of winding the weaving threads into a place where the spools of thread function as thread for the length of the songket cloth in Sumatra

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Poserende Minangkabause mannen TMnr 10005045.jpg|Minangkabau men from West Sumatra in traditional dress (songket), 1929

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Zijden schouderdoek met gouddraadversiering TMnr 5957-9.jpg|Shoulder cloth. The entire length of the plaid silk is decorated with gold thread (songket). The edges were decorated with gallons and gold trim, the shoulder cloth was silk with gold thread trimmings in Sumatra, circa 1900 (Tropenmuseum).

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Ceremoniële omslagdoek TMnr 5957-3.jpg|Selendang, Long silk scarf from Aceh, Sumatra. The ends are decorated with weft thread from the golden thread (songket) of the ceremonial shawl {{circa|1900|lk=no}}.

File:Kain Samping Songket Lelaki.jpg|Songket fabric with keris motif with a bamboo shoot in the middle from West Sumatra, Pucuak rabuang is one of the Minangkabau traditional motifs.

File:Songket end to Singaraja silk selendang 350 x50cm Collection of Balique Arts of Indonesia 20121123 1.JPG|Detail of a songket sarong from Singaraja, the collection of Balique Arts of Indonesia. 1920s.

File:Kain limar songket bertabur (hip wrapper), Malaysian people, Malaya, Terengganu, mid 19th century AD, silk, metal-wrapped silk, view 2 - Textile Museum, George Washington University - DSC09788.JPG|Terengganu songket, the {{lang|ms|Limar Songket Bertabur}} cloth from the 19th century, the collection of Textile Museum, George Washington University

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• Batik
• Ikat
• Sarong
• Tapis
• Woven fabric

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book | last = Achjadi| first = Judi| title = Floating Threads: Indonesian Songket and Similar Weaving Traditions | location = Jakarta| publisher = BAB Publishing Indonesia | year = 2015 | isbn = 978-6027208506 }}
• {{cite book |author1=Rodgers Susan|author2=Anne Summerfield|author3=John Summerfield| title =Gold Cloths of Sumatra: Indonesia's Songkets from Ceremony to Commodity| location = Leiden| publisher = KITLV Press| year = 2007 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pgu6c4qZMkYC | isbn =978-9067183123 }}
• {{cite book | last = Summerfield | first = Anne |author2=John Summerfield | title = Walk in Splendor: Ceremonial Dress and the Minangkabau | publisher = UCLA | year= 1999 | isbn = 0-930741-73-0 }}
• {{cite book|last=Smith| first = Holly S.| title =Aceh Art and Culture | location =Kuala Lumpur| publisher =Oxford University Press| year =1997}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Songket}}{{Indonesian clothing}}

{{Minangkabau}}

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{{Malaysian clothing|state=expanded}}

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