Sunday, November 19, 2006

Cantiknya Kebaya Series 1

Kebaya is one of the traditional dress for Malay women. In old Malacca, the Nyonya's who are Chinese and married local Malay men, wears kebaya too to show their identity.

The Nyonya Kebaya is a beautiful, translucent, figure-hugging embroidered blouse worn with a batik sarong by Peranakan ladies.

It is this and much more. A nyonya kebaya is a work of art, a labour of love, a heritage, a traditional costume that is timeless. An attire for all occasions, it is elegant, feminine, alluring, sensual, glamorous and fashionable for all ages.

Zara

Nyah Tia

Nyah Tia

Nyah Tia

From Wikipedia

A Kebaya is a traditional blouse worn by Indonesian and Malaysian women made from sheer material and usually worn with a sarong, batik, or other traditional knitted garment such as a songket with a colorful motif.

Kebayas are believed to originate from China hundreds of years ago. They then spread to Malacca, Java, Bali, Sumatra, and Celebes. After hundred years of acculturation, the garments have become adjusted to local customs and culture.

On the island of Java before 1600, kebayas were sacred clothing to be worn only by members of the Javanese monarchy. During the period of Dutch control of that island, European women began wearing kebayas as formal dress. During this period, kebayas were transformed from only using mori fabric to using silk with colorful embroidary.

A similar garment called the "nyonya kebaya" was first created by the Peranakan people of Malacca. They wore it with a sarong and beautiful beaded shoes called "kasut manek". Nowadays, the nyonya kebaya is going through a period of revival, and is also becoming popular among non-Asian peoples.

Apart from traditional kebayas, fashion designers are looking into ways of modifying the design and making kebayas a more fashionable outfit. Modified kebayas can even be worn with jeans or skirts.

Juliea

Sharifah Amani

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