The kebaya is a long sleeved blouse reaching to about waist-length. The word ‘kebaya’ was derived from the Arabic word ‘kaba’ meaning ‘clothing’. A kebaya could be made from voile, which is a type of fine cotton fabric originating from France or Switzerland. This coloured piece is decorated with motifs of brown squirrels frolicking among fruits and foliage, possibly acorns. The cuffs, front collar and ‘lapik’, which refers to the two triangular panels are also decorated with chicken wire mesh patterned cutwork. The kebaya came into prominence in the early 20th century, when it slowly replaced the knee length ‘baju panjang’. It is usually worn with an inner camisole and paired with the sarong, which is a rectangular piece of dyed cotton cloth worn as a skirt by wrapping it around the waist.
