Malaysian Textiles and Colonial Rule
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.
Malaysia endured multiple periods of colonization, but each time its people preserved their identity through cultural resilience — especially in textiles. Fabrics like batik, songket, tenun, were a quiet form of resistance, carrying stories, symbols, and pride that colonial powers could never erase.
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 Resilience.” To make this possible, I’m selling Malaysian hijabs to raise funds for her and this project. When you buy one, you’re not just purchasing fabric; you’re joining a movement of preservation and solidarity. 100% of hijab sales will go to her.
Read more about Malaysian Textile Resistance:
Preserving Malaysia’s Cultural Identity through Batik: Challenges and Strategies by Hartini Mohd Razali et al.
Threads of Identity, The Cultural Tapestry of the Jawi Peranakan Kebaya by Asilatul Hanaa Abdullah
Why Malaysian Batik Still Matters: The Stories Malaysia Fact
The Survival of Cultural Patterns in Malaysia’s Contemporary Visual Landscape by Sherry Fresia Blankenship & Keith Kay Hin Tan
