The sarong is a tubular garment that is worn around the lower body. It is decorated with floral motifs and has a central ‘kepala’ or ‘head panel’ which Malay ladies would wear at the front. The kepala features rows of elongated triangles known in Malay as ‘pucuk rebung’ or ‘bamboo shoots’. Such triangular ornamentation was popularised by its usage on the prestigious Indian trade cloths. This piece was made using the ‘weft ikat’ technique, where the horizontal threads are tied and dyed before the fabric is woven.
