Sarawak! - Borneo Talk

Malay Artneckline designWith Raya just over, you couldn’t help but noticedthe beautiful traditional Raya dresses wornby the ladies who came visiting. One obviousobservation is the changing trends in the baju kurungneckline design, which is more creative and innovativenow, with the appliqués of beading works. The simpletraditional cut of the kurung is enhanced with elaboratebeading works.In the years before the advent of the use of beaded designson the neckline, traditionally in Semenanjung Malaysia, theneckline is most often sewn only with the herring bonestitches call tulang belud. In Sarawak the baju kurungneckline have decorative stitches, which the SarawakianMalay ladies are known for. This is locally known as simo.These photographs will focus on some of the designs ofthe baju kurung, simo cincin, simo lalat, simo kulat kerangand a host of other creative names. The names are oftengiven based on the designs, inspired by the surroundingenvironment.With the trends into beading works on baju kurungand as more ladies prefer to use the tudung, plus othernew trends in the future, these simo stitches might bephased out.For the men, the ‘baju teluk belanga’ is prominently worn,especially on the first day of Raya, for the Eid prayers.Again, the Sarawak Malays are known for giving adifference to the traditional baju melayu. The technique of‘cabut,’ ie, painstakingly pulling threads at different placesof the baju, especially the sleeves, the pockets and thehem. Once these threads are pulled, they will be rewovenwith colorful threads, either to complement or contrastwith the colour of the baju. The interlocking of thesethreads create new designs, and brings out the beautifulworkmanship of the tailor. This art is also on the verge ofextinction, with changing trends.An interesting point to note is that all these creativebeading works on the kurung are done mainly by ladies!Kind courtesy of SARAWAK WOMEN’S BUREAUJalan Bakti off Jalan Sultan Tengah, Semariang, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.Tel: +6082 446980, 446178 Fax: +6082 447937Oct-Dec2011BorneoTalk | 29