SULAMAN GOYANG CRAFT COMMUNITY HELPS GENERATE INCOME, PRESERVE A SEWING HERITAGE

KEPALA BATAS, July 1 (Bernama) -- The ‘Komuniti Kraf Sulaman Goyang’, which was introduced in 2022, not only helps participants generate income but also preserves the traditional embroidery method as a national heritage.

The craft of ‘Sulaman Goyang’ (literally as ‘moving motif embroidery’) is a traditional embroidery technique that involves the use of thread and needle to create a ‘goyang’ or moving pattern in embroidery, often used in local handicrafts to decorate clothing, especially the Baba Nyonya kebaya, cloth or accessories with colourful floral patterns.

Yusri Gulam, the director of the Penang branch of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia), Yusri Gulam said participants of the ‘Sulaman Goyang Craft Community’ were taught in phases, focusing on skill enhancement according to a set module.

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“The Sulaman Goyang Craft Community produces a variety of embroidery products such as handkerchiefs, tudung bawal, head scarf and baju kebaya while its uniqueness is that it has the originality of the same front and back pattern, besides being delicately embroidered on the surface of cotton Robia fabric.

“According to sewing participants, they can earn RM150 to RM500 for each piece of baju kebaya,” he said at the Media Programme aimed at assessing the community’s progress here today.

The Sulaman Goyang Craft Community, developed under the Kepala Batas Community Skills Development Project (PPKK), is a Kraftangan Malaysia initiative that aims to give exposure and develop sewing skills in the production of interesting embroidery craft products to be marketed to generate income.

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Elaborating, Yusri said some participants have become craft entrepreneurs, marketing their products to other circles of entrepreneurs to find buyers.

He said the Sulaman Goyang Craft Community also strengthens Malaysia’s dwindling cultural heritage, especially in Penang, thus giving the younger generation the opportunity to be involved in activities that foster patience and thoroughness.

“That’s why we are doing this course again in Penang because we want to make Goyang Sulaman a cultural heritage here. So far, as we know, only this state preserves and uses the technique,” he said.

Meanwhile, 41-year-old Halimaton Saadiah Talib, a Fardu Ain religious class (KAFA) teacher in Kepala Batas who is a participant in the Sulaman Goyang Craft Community, said she can sew clothes but joined the course to learn the Goyang embroidery technique.

She said that while it looks easy, it requires careful attention, skills and dexterity of a soft, pliable hand to sew embroidery in various moving patterns.

“I produce more Goyang embroidery on head scarfs and sell them at RM50 and above according to the pattern produced. Buyers can also choose a specific pattern they want embroidered on their head scarfs,” said Halimaton, who was happy and excited to learn and inherit the Sulaman Goyang (embroidery) technique.

A total of six PPKK in Penang have been implemented by developing 97 new craft communities covering the fields of textile crafts and various crafts until this year.

The Sulaman Goyang Craft Community will also participate in a ‘simulated business operation’ booth at the Penang Craft Festival at the Seberang Perai Arena Convention Centre here from July 5-14.

-- BERNAMA