Weaving Heritage and Fashion

The songket is a prestigious piece of Malaysian clothing, often passed down through generations as family heirlooms. However, the traditional art is slowly waning as the numbers of skilled weavers drop every year. Formed in 2012, Tanoti Crafts is a company dedicated to the preservation of the art of songket weaving. The Sarawak-owned and managed organisation trains young weavers in order to keep the vocation alive, and now boasts a team of 21 artisans, 19 weavers and 2 textile designers. Later, Emma Chong Johnston gives us the lowdown on the retro stylings of tea dresses.