Malay traditional clothing
Kerikam (Jawi: کريکم‎) is a coarse metal thread made of gold or silver used for embroidering. The term "kerikam" comes from the French word clinquant. It is an important material in the Malay art of embroidery, traditionally used by the Malays in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Thailand. "Kerikam" embroidery can be found on baju kurung, kebaya and tudung.
History.
This art of using "kerikam" for embroidery originated from the court of Malaca sultanate, in the early 15th century. With the fall of the Malaca sultanate, the art spreads all over the Malay archipelago. It is known as "kelingkan" and "kelengkan" in Selangor, "keringkam" in Sarawak, "teringkam" or "terekam" in Terengganu, "kelingkam" and "kelengkang" in Kelantan. In Riau islands, it is known as Manto, in Palembang as "mudawarah" and in South Africa as "mediora". All of these names carry the same meaning.
The use of "kerikam" was even mentioned in the Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) and Ranee Margaret Brooke's My Life in Sarawak: The Ranee of Sarawak.
Tudung Keringkam.
"Keringkam" or "Selayah" is a traditional type of headscarf traditionally worn by women in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is handcrafted with fine
embroidery work, that complements the traditional Malay clothing of Sarawak. In the old days, "Keringkam" was only worn by the Malay royalty and nobility. However now, this traditional headscarf is often worn when attending special occasions such as weddings and cultural events. The term "tudung keringkam" is believed to be originated from "kerikam", the name of the thread used for embroidery. This intricate craft of embroidery is also found in other states in Malaysia, such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, and Johor.
References.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;