Discover the beauty of Songket Terengganu. Explore motifs, learn the stories behind them, and create your own heritage.
Songket is a traditional handwoven textile renowned for its intricate patterns and luxurious metallic threads. It reflects the artistry, identity, and cultural heritage of the Malay community — especially in Terengganu.
Songket is a traditional handwoven textile of the Malay world, renowned for its intricate patterns created by the supplementary weft technique — metallic threads of gold or silver woven through silk or cotton, so the shimmering motifs appear to float upon the surface of the cloth.
“Songket” comes from the Malay word sungkit — “to hook” or “to pick up.”
Historically, songket was the cloth of royal courts and aristocratic families across the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and the wider Archipelago — worn at ceremonies, royal functions and weddings as a mark of prestige, wealth and social status.
More than a textile, songket reflects the creativity and technical mastery of the Malay people. Its motifs draw on flowers, leaves, bamboo shoots, stars and geometric forms — echoing the values, beliefs and aesthetics of Malay society.
Today songket remains one of the most treasured traditional textiles in Southeast Asia, continuing to serve as a symbol of cultural identity, craftsmanship and the ongoing preservation of heritage.
