Songket Riau

Songket is one form of Malay culture craft woven fabric that is usually worn on formal occasions. Songket can be used both women and men. Songket made with a loom that in general traditionally made or done by hand and foot. 

Songket made from cotton. But also used gold or silver threads to form a pattern on songket. In Indonesia alone, there are many types of songket where each region has its unique characteristics of each. I will further discuss about the Songket Riau.

On Thursday, 30 sept 2010, Riau and Jambi ACI adventurers the opportunity to visit the handicraft Songket Riau on the island of Bengkalis, Kabupaten Bengkalis, Riau. There Songket crafts flourished. That is because almost every woman or girl over there are taught to weave Songket. They get the ability to weave these are hereditary.

We visited the house, Mrs. Elvi, one of the craftsmen Songket there. According to him, Songket Riau was first developed in the Siak area. But in its development, it was the Bengkalis region forward. This is not separated because of reduction in the ability of earlier generations. 

The Government also supports the economic progress of this particular craft songket Riau, for example by involving the artisans to craft themed events of national and international level. Songket Riau has coraknya ax ie shoots shoots that do not distinguish by type of other Songket. Ms. Elvi business has been running for two generations. He's 3 brothers. His brother runs a similar business in the area of ​​Pekanbaru. Their products not only penetrated the national market, but internationally as well as Malaysia and Singapore. For the price range from Rp 300,000 to millions, depending on the difficulty of motive, the old craftsmanship, and the amount of gold or silver thread material in use. For fastest processing time could be completed three days and at most could be a month. We also had to buy 2 pieces for souvenirs to Jakarta.