Songket weaving
With gold and silver threads.
Adhmi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Adhmi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Adhmi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Adhmi — CC BY-SA 4.0
A mountain village on the slope of the volcano Singgalang between Padang Panjang and Bukittinggi, famous for centuries for songket, cloth hand-woven with gold and silver threads, worn by brides and leaders at Minangkabau ceremonies, its patterns counted among Indonesia's finest weaving. In the village's homes and workshops women sit at traditional wooden looms weaving intricate patterns thread by thread; a single piece can take weeks or months. Visitors can watch the weaving, talk with the weavers and buy cloth directly. The village also has woodcarvers, and traditional houses among vegetable fields in cool air. The visit is free; prices vary with the fineness of weave and the amount of metallic thread, and buying directly supports the weavers. The village is about half an hour from Bukittinggi on the road to Padang, a natural stop on the way.
With gold and silver threads.
Weeks for a single piece.
Supporting the weavers.
Pandai Sikek, Tanah Datar regency, on the slopes of Mount Singgalang
It is entirely hand-woven with metallic threads, and a fine piece takes weeks or months, so its price reflects the work and materials. Simpler pieces cost less.