The baju panjang is a long, knee-length cotton tunic with a v-shaped opening for the head. This blue garment is decorated with checks and could have been referred to in Baba Malay as ‘sarong kain chaylay’. Such ‘baju panjangs’ were worn by Peranakan Chinese women in the Straits Settlements and made using imported woven cloth from Europe. The baju panjang was the standard women’s wear for the Peranakan community as well as most other local communities in the Straits Settlements. Its long and loose fitting appearance was suited for the hot, humid climate of the region while also presenting a conservative appearance in keeping with the cultural expectations of earlier times.
