<![CDATA[The shift in people's understanding of the symbolic meaning of traditional clothing due to the tide of modernization has led to traditional clothing often being understood only as ceremonial attire in traditional ceremonies and rituals, including Takwo Kustim from the Kutai Kartanegara Ing Martadipura Sultanate. In fact, this clothing contains a cultural symbol system that represents the identity, social structure, and local wisdom values of the Kutai people. This study aims to examine and interpret the symbolic meaning of the elements of Takwo Kustim traditional clothing and explain its potential as a medium for public education based on local wisdom. This study uses a qualitative approach by combining Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotics and ethnography. Data was obtained through literature study, observation, interviews, and documentation, then analyzed through a process of classification, interpretation, and data meaning. The results of the study show that the material elements, colors, motifs, and attributes of Takwo Kustim contain symbolic meanings that represent authority, legitimacy of power, spirituality, and the continuity of the traditional values of the Kutai Sultanate. These findings confirm that Takwo Kustim is not only a cultural artifact but also has great potential as a contextual public education medium. The conclusion of the study shows that the use of Takwo Kustim as a public education medium can strengthen cultural literacy, collective identity, and the preservation of local wisdom, and has the potential to be developed as a source of art and culture learning in educational and public spaces.]]>
