Difference between Tanjak, tengkolok and destar

Tanjak, tengkolok or destar is one of the chief man dressed in Malay which is often associated with palaces, heroism and used in a variety of events customs of the Malays. Tanjak would typically be matched with the girdle, and next to the dagger tucked baju Melayu and Malay for menswear. In a nutshell, the difference between the headdress, headband and headdress are:

Tengkolok: circumference tapering upward, winding layered (thick), fabric quality

Destar: low girth and thin              

Tanjak: circumference of the headdress, but more compact and thinner

Tengkolok, also known as destar, setanjak / tanjak, a kind of traditional head coverings worn by men. The headdress made of songket long folded and tied in force (makeup) that is certain. Nowadays, more headdress worn in ceremonies full of customs, for example by royalty and the audience in the royal ceremonial occasions, and by the groom during the wedding ceremony.

These are the examples types of headdresses that i have got from other resource such as blog and pinterest.

dendam tak sudah

layang mas

balung raja

tanjak laksamana

sawo berendam

lang sari

layar temasik

tanjak tun nila

ayam teleng

solek gondang mas

gagak di rimba

tanjak laksamana (lama)

lang sura

harimau berantai

tombak rebung

solek ketam batu

menyonsong angin

dendam tak sudah dengan sanggul kelopak mawar

naga bora

merbah berlaga

setanjak balung ayam (tanjak diraja selangor)

naga emas

Other types of tanjak

There are many types of tanjak. There are dozens of types of folds. These are other examples of the kind of tanjak.

Art of tanjak

Sample video from youtube making the simple malay tanjak/tengkolok

                                          

Process of making tanjak

Pakcik Hashim stated that the process of making a tanjak took about an hour normally. There were several steps of it, include folding, ironing, and sewing. Yesterday I met him to learn the process of producing tanjak from the beginning until the final step.

Actually there were many types of tanjak but I have tought only one of them that called Tanjak Agong. All materials and tools that we need were 'songket' cloth, hard org thick paper, glue, scissors, and iron. The process seemed as easy as ABC but it clearly quite complicated because we need to be very focus and contious.

At first I just wanted to watch Pakcik Hashim making the tanjak. Fortunately, he wanted me to make it along with him and I grabbed this upportunity to learn on making tanjak by myself.

The first step was folding songket cloth into square, then thick paper was pasted on it. The purpose of using the thick paper was to make tanjak stood in its proper shape. After the songket cloth and the thick paper were fold altogether to create the wanted shape, they were sewed with very careful. The process of dolding, ironing, and sewing were done in repetitions until a complete tanjak was created.

Met Pakcik Hashim

Pakcik Hashim is a kind hearted man. He came from Gombak and used to be a teacher in several schools such as Kuala Langat and Klang. Before he opened his sewing shop he actived in making 'angklung' and wayang kulit.

He used to study in one of the institution in Perak. PakCik got talent in Art Field. He used to be a leader of art club when he was young. He is also participeted in many activities such as theater, drawing cartoon and also making magazine. Meanwhile, he is very good in playing instruments.

Now he just sews attire and making many types of 'Tanjak'. To me, he is a great man. He is also an expert in drawing his own sewed shirts, and making 'Tanjak' according to each state in Malaysia.

He stated that the process of making a 'Tanjak' took about one  hour. A 'Tanjak' costs Rm100 if uses his own stuffs, while Rm50 if customers provide their own cloth.