This pink and white kebaya has a check pattern running throughout the cloth, with embroidered flowers around the border. The kebaya is a loose open jacket usually worn by Peranakan women of the Straits Settlements, Indonesia and Indo-European women of the late 19th to 20th century. It has embroidered edges that imitate the look of lace, which became popular during the mid-twentieth century and replaced lace as the decoration of choice along the border of the blouses. Its tapered ends was also popular during this time period. Coloured pieces also became popular over white kebayas during this era. This kebaya belonged to a Chinese woman who was living in Java during the Japanese Occupation. She took on Peranakan dress and identity to adopt as low a profile as possible in order not to attract attention.
