The ‘baju panjang’ is a hip or knee length long tunic with a v-shaped opening for the head. This piece features colourful rose blossoms with flying birds, superimposed on background of vertical white stripes on a green base. The ‘baju panjang’, being long and loose fitting, is suitable for the hot, humid climate in Southeast Asia as it allowed for better ventilation. Early photographs from the mid 1850s reflect the garment, with its loose conservative form, and muted tones of natural dyes as the style of the day. In the early decades of the 20th century, these became more colourful with the introduction of synthetic dyes.
