Weaving

The rich gold and silver brocade of Minangkabau cloth plays an important rôle in the ceremonies of birth, circumcision, marriage and death. This iridescent and intricately designed textile forms the material expression of the Minang adat. A traditional saying is "The fabric is the skin of the adat ". Women weave this expensive cloth on a background of silk or cotton, applying an embossed pattern of silver or gold thread, a technique called Songket. The finest threads are traditionally made from paper with a thin layer of gold or silver. Since 1900 the ceremonial cloths have been woven in only four villages: Kota Badang, Padangpanjang, Payakumbuh and Silungkang and the famous Kain Balapak, the most exclusive ceremonial brocade, only in Pandai Sikat. Pandai Sikat lies12 km. south of Bukittingi, and is also famous for its wood carving.