Cual is a traditional woven cloth originating from Mentok,West Bangka. The frist process of dipping thread for motif making is also called cual. The thread – which is also called Limar – is woven using a special weaving tool called Gedongan. The making of Cual can take 2 to 3 months and is primarily done in purple and red. It applied many decorative motives such as Bebek Bekandang, Kembang Setaman, Gajah Mada and many other.
Cual is usually used at certain ceremonial events only, e.g. at traditional (adapt), wedding, and other religious ceremonies. But people also produce Cual to make traditional Bangka headdresses called Setanjak. In Palembang, Cual is more known as Songket.
Photography by Seiichi Okawa
