The 'baju panjang' (long dress in Malay) is a loose, long-sleeved blouse with a hemline ending around the calves. It was a popular garment amongst both Malay and Peranakan women prior to the emergence of the shorter 'kebaya' blouse in the late 1920s. The outfit is sometimes paired with a 'selendang', which is a headscarf commonly worn in public by Malay women. The cotton plaid sarong (wrap-around cloth) has long been the traditional garment of choice for both Malay men and women, with its chequered geometric motifs reflecting the Islamic aesthetic values of its wearers. It is usually 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 in the 19th century, sarongs from Celebes were highly sought after and were a valuable export commodity for Bugis traders.
