Songket is the crown of Kelantan’s textile crafts: a hand-woven cloth shot through with gold and silver thread, worn at weddings and the grandest occasions. Where batik is everyday and affordable, songket is ceremonial and precious, and buying one is a real event. This guide explains what songket is, why it costs what it does, and where to find it, then widens out to the other handicrafts the state is known for: the kite bulan moon kite, silver filigree, wood carving and the kris.
It is the companion to our guides on shopping in Kelantan and where to buy batik, so start there if you want the broader lay of the land.
What songket actually is
Songket is woven on a loom from silk or fine cotton, with supplementary threads of gold or silver worked in by hand to build raised, shimmering motifs. Traditionally it was a textile of royalty and ceremony, and to this day it is most associated with Malay weddings, where bride and groom wear it like cloth-of-gold. The patterns, flowers, stars, bamboo shoots and geometric borders, carry names and meaning passed down through weaving families.
Because every motif is laid in thread by thread, a single piece can take a skilled weaver days or weeks. That labour is exactly why it commands the prices it does.
Why songket costs what it does
Expect to pay considerably more for songket than for batik. A genuine hand-woven piece reflects the silk, the metallic thread and the sheer hours at the loom, so prices can run into the hundreds and well beyond for the finest work. Cheaper “songket-look” cloth exists, woven with synthetic thread or partly machine-made, and it has its place, but it is not the same object. As always, ask the weaver what you are buying and check locally rather than trusting a single quoted figure.
The wider world of Kelantan handicraft
Songket shares its heritage with several other crafts, most of them still made by hand in and around Kota Bharu.
Wau bulan, the moon kite
The wau bulan is Kelantan’s emblematic kite, a large crescent-tailed flier covered in intricate cut-paper patterns. Beyond the full-size flying kites, you will find smaller decorative wau made as wall art, which travel home far more easily.
Silver filigree
Kelantan silverwork is famous for filigree, fine threads of silver twisted and soldered into lace-like brooches, bowls, boxes and pendants. It is delicate, distinctive and very much a local signature.
Wood carving
Traditional Kelantan wood carving turns flowing floral and calligraphic motifs into panels, screens and household pieces. Smaller carved items make handsome, characterful gifts.
The kris
The kris is the wavy-bladed ceremonial dagger of the Malay world, a heritage object rich in symbolism rather than a casual purchase. Buy from a reputable seller and treat it as the cultural artefact it is.
Where to buy and watch artisans at work
The most rewarding way to buy any of these crafts is at the source.
- Kampung Penambang. The songket and craft village just outside Kota Bharu is the classic destination, where you can often watch weaving in progress and buy straight from the loom.
- Pasar Siti Khadijah and the bazaar. The central market and the nearby Buluh Kubu bazaar carry songket, silver and souvenirs if you want to browse in one place.
- Craft workshops around town. Silver, kite and carving workshops cluster around the capital; see the things to do list to fold a visit into your day.
Buying respectfully
A few habits make for a better exchange in a conservative, Muslim-majority state. Dress modestly, greet before you get to price, and take your time, these are crafts people are proud of, and unhurried interest is welcomed. Bargaining is fine in markets and bazaars, gently and in good humour, but pushing hard against a weaver’s price for a piece that took weeks is poor form. Remember too that Friday and Saturday are the local weekend in Kelantan and many makers pause around Friday prayers, so check hours with your host before a special trip.
Buy a true hand-woven songket and you are carrying home not just a cloth but a craft tradition. When you are ready to round out your haul with everyday pieces, the batik guide and the shopping overview will see you right.
Good to know
What is songket?
Songket is a hand-woven cloth, usually silk or fine cotton, threaded through with gold or silver. It is a ceremonial textile worn at Malay weddings and formal occasions, and is one of Kelantan's most prestigious crafts.
Why is songket so expensive?
Each piece is woven by hand on a loom, often over many days or weeks, with real metallic thread laid in by eye. The labour, the materials and the skill all add up, so a hand-woven songket can run into the hundreds and well beyond.
Where can you watch songket being woven in Kelantan?
Kampung Penambang, the craft village just outside Kota Bharu, is the classic spot. Several workshops there let you watch weaving in progress and buy directly from the makers.