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Behind the beautiful creation of Songket is
a rich heritage that spans many centuries in the Malay peninsula.
Perhaps, the most glorious era of songket is during the supremacy
of the Malacca Malay Sultanate Empire in the 15th and 16th century.
During this period, trade in textiles were active,
especially when Malacca had established itself as the richest
trading seaport in the region with profusion of wholesale merchandise
that can be found around the world.Fine silks, brocades, cotton
textiles, European damasks, Indian kain pelekat (a cotton sarong),
Chinese satins were found in abundance and constantly shipped
to Malacca to fill the demands from both the locals and the foreign
traders.
Fashion, at that time, existed in the form of intricate motifs
and patterns, handwoven onto the most expensive materials, and
worn only by the royal families, high-ranking officials of the
King's court and distinguished recipients of awards and titles.
Appreciation of beauty was the assimilation of nature into design.
Adages, metaphors, proverbs and philosophy were reflected on the
motifs with much wisdom. Spaces, gaps between motifs and even
number of motif's repetition was of significance as it conveys
the unity of the community.
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