Sarong

Title
Sarong
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
Terengganu, Malay Peninsula
Dimension
Object size: L:201.0 x W:98.0
Accession No.
1997-04188
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ng

The sarong is a tubular garment that is worn around the lower body. It is decorated with floral motifs and has a central, broad patterned area known as the ‘kepala’ or ‘head panel’, which Malay ladies would have been worn at the front. This panel features rows of elongated triangles, known by Malays as ‘pucuk rebung’ or ‘bamboo shoots’. Such triangular ornamentation was popularised by Indian trade cloths. This sarong was woven using the ‘weft ikat’ technique, where the horizontal threads are tied-and-dyed prior to weaving.