Indonesia, which has a variety of cultures, allows us to find some traditional clothes that have been encountered in several places, including in Belitung. In the country of Laskar Pelangi, we can find traditional clothes called Clothing Settings and Cual Fabrics. Belitung traditional clothing in the form of clothes and cual cloth itself is almost the same as songket fabric from Palembang. One thing that makes the Cloth Suit and Cual Cloth with this Pelket Songket the same is the level of complexity. Then what is the history, the process of making and using these cual blouses and cloths? The following explanation.
Kain Cual (Songket) Belitung
Following its history, the Cual Cloth and Dress is believed to have originated from a mixture of Arab and Chinese culture. So in the past it was known that there were wealthy merchants from Dayang Arabs to Belitung to broadcast Islamic agamar while trading. After a long stay in Belitung and settled in Mentok, this rich merchant later got a wife of a Chinese descent. Now at the wedding, the two couples wore their respective traditional clothes. Seen the bride and groom then wore a cual setting and cloth that attracted the attention of residents. Because then many Chinese and Arabs who arrived and married to the natives, made these clothes and cual cloths increasingly popular to be used during weddings.
In its development, the clothes and cual cloths were then combined with local patterns of the original Malay culture of Bangka Belitung. From here, the clothes and cual cloth appear, which is the result of a blend of 3 cultures, namely Arabic, Chinese and Malay. In the past Cual Kain was called Limar Muntok which had a motif similar to songket from South Sumatra. The similarity with this songket cloth reflects that the muntok limar cloth is influenced by Malay culture. From other stories, it is found that the Limok muntok cloth emerged and developed in the 17th century in an area called Muntok. The person who first introduced the Limok muntok cloth was the great-grandfather of the founder of the Cual Ishadi cloth shop located in Pangkal Pinang.
Kain Cual (Songket) Belitung
In a wedding in Belitung, the clothes and cual cloth made of velvet or silk cloth are usually worn by the bride. The dress that the bride is wearing looks like an ordinary red brackets and comes with some accessories. For the bottom of this brides clothing is cual cloth or also called woven fabric or lasem cloth. To complete the Belitung brides dress, we will find special footwear called pending slippers or arabic sandals.
Kain Cual (Songket) Belitung
Meanwhile for the Belitung grooms attire, we will find a long robe. This dark red robe and arabic pattern will usually be equipped with a long cloth or scarf. This selandang will later be slung on the right shoulder in a sideways direction. As for the lower part of the groom attire, the trousers will be adjusted to the color of the tops. To make an impression that matches the bride, the groom clothes will be given trinkets whose motives will be adjusted to her partner.
Kain Cual (Songket) Belitung
The process of making these clothes and cual cloths is indeed quite complicated so it takes a long time to complete. In addition to the complicated manufacturing process, getting these unique materials is also difficult. The materials to make this Cual Fabric itself include silk, wood fiber, polyster, cotton, and some use 18 carat gold thread. From the complexity and difficulty of the materials for the manufacturing process, it is no wonder then that the price of Cual Fabric is fairly expensive like the Pelket Songket. Usually this cual cloth is made by mothers while filling their free time with the traditional method of weaving.
Kain Cual (Songket) Belitung
Typical Cual Fabric motifs are found in the flora and fauna motif which consists of two types namely Jande Bekecak motif (empty space motif) and Bekecak Penganten motif (full pattern). The motifs contained in Cual Cloth itself have philosophical values ??and meanings, which describe the beauty and weaving process that is complicated and complex.
Kain Cual (Songket) Belitung
In its use, clothes that are identical with traditional aristocratic clothing are usually worn for traditional events such as weddings or large events and other official events. But at this time in its development, the use of cual cloth or cual patterned fabric can also be found on the uniforms of elementary schools or government offices.
Kain Cual (Songket) Belitu
At certain events such as very important events, this Cual fabric will usually be equipped with some complementary accessories such as a turban (sungkon) used by men and a crown (clothes) used by women.
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