This monotone silk ensemble features floral embroidery along the edges of the kebaya and shawl, and buttons wrapped in self-fabric. The batik is hand-painted with bold strokes of wax, forming square and fan coral motifs in a maximalist fashion that characterises Milo’s style. Sarong kebaya came to be popular amongst Bali travellers in the 1970s. Milo’s version is notable in having matching designs for the sarong kebaya produced as a set, and for being in black and white. His batik works were also produced in silk rather than more traditionally, cotton. Milo’s is a Bali-based fashion label founded in the 1990s by Milan-born designer Emilio Migliavacca (1947–2020). He was based in Bali since 1973, creating largely resort wear that are well-received by the expatriate and Indonesian communities. The Italian designer’s cross-cultural interpretation of batik led him to represent Indonesia in numerous fashion showcases in Southeast Asia, including Singapore. The 1970s influx of Western travellers to Bali resulted in numerous expatriate-invested Balinese fashion supply chains, that propelled Bali’s industrialisation and exportation of garment production towards the 1990s.
