DEVELOPMENT OF MALAY RIAU SONGKET WOVEN FABRIC DESIGN BASED ON MARKET INTEREST FOR FASHION PRODUCTS

• Main Author: Tri Lovely Mulyadi, Adinda
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/73309
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Malay Riau songket woven fabric, initially known as Siak weaving, was introduced by a craftsman brought from the Terengganu Kingdom in Malaysia during the Siak Kingdom era. Initially, a traditional backstrap loom was used, which later transitioned to the Kik, Gedogan, and ATBM looms. Weaving using Kik/Gedogan took a considerable amount of time, almost a month to complete a piece of fabric. With the ATBM loom, weavers could produce a piece of fabric in a shorter time, typically around 3 days, depending on the complexity of the design. However, one of the challenges faced by weavers today is the declining interest of young people in continuing the craft of Malay Riau songket weaving, mainly due to the unstable income of craftsmen, which is not particularly high. This is caused by the relatively limited market demand, as the development, design, and adaptation of Malay Riau songket fabric to meet market preferences are still constrained by the skills of the craftsmen.In various efforts to preserve and develop the cultural heritage of Malay Riau, one of the initiatives is to continually develop the ancestral heritage by understanding its unique characteristics. Through this, design development is carried out while maintaining traditional values and cultural roots. The design development process involves understanding each element of the fabric, such as decorative motifs, fabric structure, fabric composition, distinctive colors, and others. The development stages are based on the results of surveys conducted to determine market interests in specific designs. The survey results are then implemented in the exploration process until they become a complete fabric design.The development of Malay Riau songket fabric aims to ensure that the resulting fabric is not only used for traditional purposes but can also be incorporated into fashionable clothing products for everyday wear or special occasions while preserving traditional elements. By increasing the use of the fabric in various fashion products, it is hoped to revive the existence of Malay Riau songket weaving and have a positive impact on the economy of Riau weaving craftsmen.