BERNAMA – Not many people may have heard about limar textiles, as they are not as well-known as other types of songket fabrics. But it is a part of Malay textile heritage that deserves to be celebrated and treasured. Limar is expensive to produce due to the silk thread binding techniques used in weaving the textile, which also incorporates intricate motifs, gold threads and an elaborate dyeing process.
Once upon a time, limar was popular among the nobility and royal families in Kelantan and Terengganu. In view of its exclusivity and value, Malaysian fashion designer Salikin Sidek, 60, was willing to spend over MYR10,000 just to have a limar fabric, said to be more than 150 years old, in his possession. He said the textile’s delicate weaving technique and meticulous craftsmanship were among the factors that compelled him to acquire it from a textile collector in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 10 years ago.
“This limar fabric has very high sentimental value for me, especially since it is a legacy from the nobility. As someone who is passionate about collecting textiles, I sought it out for my personal collection,” he told Bernama recently. Salikin Sidek, who owns a boutique called Mahligai Salikin Sidek and is known for his expertise in designing traditional Malay attire, said as an owner of heritage fabrics like limar, the main challenge he faces is maintaining and preserving them so that they remain in good condition and do not deteriorate.
“I’ve wrapped and rolled the li.
