Kuantan Shopping

Handicrafts, Souvenirs, Modern Shopping

Shopping in Kuantan can be an exciting adventure, especially for traditional handicrafts and cultural souvenirs.

However, there are also places to do shopping for modern goods especially in the city centre of Kuantan.

Terengganu state towards the north is another great place to look for souvenirs and cultural handicrafts.

Cultural Products

Both Kuantan and Terengganu have a rich history in making traditional Malay handicrafts and a vibrant cottage industry.

The rich Malay heritage in both states has given birthed to a wide range of products such as batik, songket, brassware and wood carvings. These skills in making traditional handicrafts have been passed down from many generations, the Malays taking great pride in their pain-staking work of creating cultural masterpieces.

For cultural shopping in Kuantan, head to Medan Pelancong in Jalan Besar, Kompleks Kraftangan in jalan Pintas, Sungai Karang, Cherating and the Pahang Silk Weaving Centre in Pekan.

The best place to shop for such items in Terengganu is in its capital city, Kuala Terengganu. Visitors can also see how the local craftsmen produce their work in these places and buy the finished products.

Batik

Batik is a traditional Malay silk garment, or fabric, that has prints on each side. These prints are actually intricate patterns woven into a tapestry of colours, using nature as inspiration. Hence, floral motifs and marine life are popular patterns seen on batik products.

Today, as batik has become more popular and known internationally, new standards of contemporary design have risen, creating batik products that are exceptionally high in quality. Batik is often used to make shirts and dresses but they can also be seen on wall panels, neckties and bags.

Kain Songket

Kain Songket is another silk fabric that is hand-woven using a loom. Gold or silver weft threads are then introduced to create complex patterns which may take days to complete. Often associated with royalty, kain songket is reserved for special occasions in Malay culture, such as making elaborate head-gears for men and wedding costumes for women. This also makes it pretty expensive.

Kek Siam

This is a unique form of fabric distinct to the state of Pahang where Kuantan is located. Kek Siam is a style of weaving fabrics with a traditional loom, resulting in chequered patterns that are organised in such a way that that the colour sequence can be changed intermittently from the warp (vertical thread) to the weft (horizontal thread). Kek Siam fabrics can be custom-made to fit both local and foreign occasions. Usually they are used for formal dinners, royal ceremonies, weddings and other important events.

Keris

The Keris is a Malay dagger with jagged edges. It is an important symbolic element in Malay aristocracy with differing designs from each state.

Made from either pewter or brass, a keris is a popular item for decoration or as gifts. Pasir Payang in Terengganu is a great place to get these ornate daggers.

Wood Carvings

Wood-carving is one of the oldest traditional crafts in the country. In Kuantan and Terengganu, visitors can check out items and souvenirs made of wood that are carved with care and precision, using Islamic art and local flora as inspiration to create awesome patterns.

Central Market

The Central Market in Pasar Payang, Terengganu is a famous place to shop for everything under the sun from fresh produce to gold jewellery and herbal remedies to Malay fabrics under one roof. Come early morning, traders are busy setting up stalls; some smoke hand-rolled cigarettes while sitting cross-legged on a sheet of fruits and vegetables, others cradle babies in their hands. As the clock ticks, the central market itself becomes alive with the din of haggling. This is a place for visitors to experience traditional Malay commerce at its best.