Keeping tradition alive: Nurdalila and her husband Zahedy displaying one of their handcrafted songkok.
MUAR: Growing up, Nurdalila Abd Ghani spent countless hours watching her grandfather craft songkok, mesmerised by the delicate artistry.
Today, she carries on his legacy with her own hands.
The 45-year-old, who was raised by her grandparents in Muar, began learning to make the traditional headwear at just seven years old.
“My parents were both civil servants working in Kuala Lumpur, so they sent me to live with my grandparents when I was a baby as there was no one to care for me.
“From a young age, I followed my grandfather to his shop almost daily. After years of helping him make songkok, I fell in love with the craft and later decided to continue his legacy,” Nurdalila said.
Her grandfather, Masood Hussin, dedicated his life to the trade until he passed away at 75 in 2000.
“My grandmother continued the business. None of their four children mastered the skill or wanted to take it on.
“Honestly, I wasn’t planning to run it either, but after much thought, I couldn’t bear to let my grandfather’s legacy die just like that,” said Nurdalila, who holds a degree in sports science from Universiti Teknologi Mara.
Despite working in a traditionally male-dominated craft, she has not only mastered the art of songkok-making but has also taught her husband, Zahedy Zakariah.
“Each songkok takes about two hours to complete, with designs such as the traditional flat-top styles, priced between RM80 and RM150,” said the mother of four.
This year, demand for her handcrafted songkok has soared, with over 5,000 orders for Hari Raya Aidilfitri from customers around the country.
“I had to stop accepting orders by January to ensure I could fulfil them. I have two workers assisting with cutting and measuring, while my husband is in charge of putting the velvet finish on the songkok.
“However, as I am the only one making the songkok itself, I can’t accept too many orders,” she said.
As one of the few artisans in the trade, Nurdalila hopes to inspire others, especially younger generations, to take up the skill and preserve a craft that is slowly fading.
