FABRICS IN PALEMBANG COMMUNITY LIFE

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe the role of the fabric community in
Palembang from time to time. Fabric is a vital necessity that can not be separated
from daily life of Palembang community. At the beginning, this vital need only be
met by using wood as a raw material. On the development, the processing of wood
fiber materials was growing. In addition the use of cotton fabrics from India and
China silk is also increasingly becoming an integral part in the life of the
archipelago. Palembang occupied a special position in the cloth trade, especially as
most potential fabric lovers in Southeast Asia, together with Jambi. Both of the
regions known as the Southeast Sumatra. The function of fabric for Palembang
society is very diverse, ranging from meeting the needs of body armor consisting of
fabric, and scarves, to other functions. These functions among others, as a symbol of
one's status, prizes, a medium of exchange, pay fines, media peace, a symbol of the
bond, the means of diplomacy, prestige and heritage, thus, the position of
Palembang as a connoisseur and developer of cloth until now continues. So normal
that until now Palembang is famous as the sole producer of the most beautiful fabric
known as the Queen of fabric which is Songket Fabric.