The Baju Panjang is an Islamic influenced tunic. It is waist length with a v-shaped opening for the head. For much of the 19th century, it was the standard women’s wear, not only for the Peranakan community but for most other local communities in the Straits Settlement and Dutch East Indies. As it is long and loose fitting, it was suitable in the hot, humid climate of the region as it allowed for ventilation. It was usually worn over a batik sarong. This baju is meant for children and is fashioned from hand painted, mordant and resist-dyed cotton, with a striped design of flower heads and a trailing flower pattern in between, of reds, blues, purples and white against a red ground.
