The 'baju panjang' is a loose, long-sleeved blouse with a hemline ending around the calves. It was a popular garment among both Malay and Peranakan women prior to the emergence of the shorter 'kebaya' blouse in the late 1920s. The cotton plaid ‘sarong’ (wrap-around cloth) has long been the traditional garment of choice for both Malay men and women, as the chequered geometric motifs reflect the Islamic aesthetic values of its wearers. It is usually worn wrapped around the waist, although there are various methods of wearing the tube-like garment. Prior to the introduction of British manufactured cotton textiles in the Malay Archipelago during the 19th century, sarongs from Celebes were highly sought after and were a valuable export commodity for Bugis traders.
