Weaving Resistance: Malaysian Textiles and Colonial Rule
Weaving Resistance: Malaysian Textiles and Colonial Rule
Throughout Malaysia’s history, textiles have been more than just fabric — they’ve been a form of resistance. Each thread carried memory, identity, and defiance against foreign control.
Portuguese (1511–1641): When the Portuguese captured Malacca, they controlled trade routes, including textiles. Yet local batik and songket weaving continued, preserving Malay symbols and patterns even as European fabrics arrived.
Dutch (1641–1824): The Dutch East India Company monopolized spice and cloth trade. Still, artisans kept weaving gold-threaded songket for royal courts and village ceremonies, maintaining Malay prestige and rejecting Dutch dominance in daily life.
British (1824–1946): The British brought industrial textiles from Europe and India, flooding local markets. But handwoven batik and tenun became emblems of Malay pride, worn during weddings and festivals to assert identity against colonial homogenization.
Japanese (1942–1945): Even during the Japanese occupation of WWII, when resources were scarce, traditional fabrics were mended and reused, symbolizing survival and cultural continuity.
Keeping these textiles alive across centuries of colonization refused to let foreign powers erase Malay heritage. To wear batik, songket, or tenun was to say: we are still here.
And just like Malaysia, Palestine has a strong history of the same tradition. I’m working with an illustrator in Gaza to tell a story dear to her about textile art, the people of Palestine, and a proverb that resonates with her. It is called “Shoes of Resistance.” To make this possible, I’m selling hijabs to pay her for her art. When you buy one, you’re not just purchasing fabric; you’re joining a movement of preservation and solidarity. 100% of sales will go to her.
