Wong proudly holds his most expensive Buriek cloth priced at RM3,500. The exquisite piece features more fragile, old shells and is crafted from high-quality fabric typically used for beauty pageants. KUCHING (May 25): The ‘buriek’ cloth is making waves at the Gawai Bazaar 2024 being held at MJC, Batu Kawa here as it captivates fashion and cultural enthusiasts alike with its intricate designs and rich heritage.
For buriek cloth-maker and seller Clement Kanyan Wong, he developed a keen interest in the cloth and transformed it into a lucrative business while also conducting classes on cloth-making. He said since 2018, he has taught over 2,000 people over Sarawak, Johor and Kuala Lumpur about the art of Buriek clothmaking, ensuring the craft’s preservation and evolution. This widespread interest has contributed significantly to the revival and growing trend of Buriek cloth in the fashion world.
According to Wong, ‘buriek’ in English are called cowrie shells and the Buriek cloth is the traditional attire of the Iban community from the Batang Rajang area. Its popularity surged during the Covid-19 movement control order. “The revival of the Buriek cloth can be traced back to a pivotal moment in 2018 when an ancestral piece was restored.
“The cloth, which originally belonged to my grandfather’s grandmother, had been damaged over time. It was painstakingly disasembled, with the cowrie shells salvaged and meticulously sewn onto new fabric,” he said. The result was stu.
