SUTERA SEMAI CENTRE

Approximately six km south of Kuala Terengganu is Sutera Semai Centre at Chendering. It is Malaysia's pioneer silk weaving centre, - where visitors can witness different stages of silk manufacturing. There, you can watch and learn the painting of batik designs onto the fabrics, resulting in beautiful batik shirts, kaftans, scarves, handkerchiefs, etc.

Batik painting is an exquisite and delicate art which requires skill, patience and meticulousness. In batik painting, brightly coloured floral motifs are painted in stages onto dyed cloths. Songket, a piece of dyed silk material weaved with gold and silver threads, is the clothing for royalties, and Malay brides and grooms at their weddings.

It is also often worn during special ceremonies and occasions such as on Hari Raya Aidilfitri (the celebration which marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month). There are many batik and songket centres in and around Kuala Terengganu, which produce and sell them.


"It is Malaysia's pioneer silk weaving centre, - where visitors can witness different stages of silk manufacturing"