Types of Baju Kebaya in Malaysia
Baju Kebaya is generally a traditional dress for Malay women. Baju Kebaya is often worn during celebrations. The usual Baju Kebaya has long sleeves, split at the chest and covered with a brooch. In Malaysia there are many types of Kebaya dresses with different designs.
Types of Baju Kebaya that are popular in Malaysia are:
1. Baju Belah Kebaya Panjang
Baju Belah Kebaya Panjang or known as Kebaya Johor-Riau is the traditional clothing of Johor women. This kebaya dress has a pattern that ‘restricts’ the body parts where this kebaya shirt has a long cut up to the ankles, splits and slits and pleats in the front of the shirt. This fashion is famous in Melaka, Perak, Selangor, Kedah and Perlis. Baju Belah Kebaya Panjang is later known as ‘Baju Panjang’ and ‘Kebaya Panjang’. This traditional dress has evolved into a long sleeved kebaya with a straight front, “kekek” and split chest covered with accessories such as studs or three brooches.
2. Kebaya Nyonya
Kebaya Nyonya is a kebaya that is still worn today especially in Melaka. Kebaya Nyonya is a kebaya from the Chinese Peranakan people. Rubia gauze is a fabric that is commonly used to make Kebaya Nyonya. This kebaya also uses a plain woven fabric made of fine twisted yarn to produce a rare and light fabric. The thread used to sew the Kebaya Nyonya fabric is machine embroidery thread made of silk, cotton or polyester. Kebaya Nyonya is decorated with flower and animal motif patterns in various colors. In the past, high-quality fabrics and threads imported from Europe were used to make the Kebaya Nyonya because it suited the status of the Nyonya.
3. Kebaya Chitty
Baju Kebaya Chitty is a baju kebaya from the Peranakan Indian Chitty tribe. Chitty’s kebaya uses opaque material for their kebaya, compared to Nyonya’s kebaya which is a semi-transparent fabric. Kebaya Chitty has fine embroidery or none at all. Chitty women also wear long kebaya and short kebaya.
4. Kebaya Selangor
The Kebaya Selangor has a length that goes past the knee, is worn separately, has four pleats in the front, is folded at the neck and ends of the sleeves are straight. The Baju Kebaya Selangor is believed to be a combination of the Kingdom of the Malay Sultanate of Malacca, Selangor, Perak, Kedah, and Bugis.
5. Kebarung
Baju Kebarung or known as Kebaya Labuh is an abbreviated combination of the words Baju Kebaya and Baju Kurung. This Baju Kebarung comes from the State of Selangor in the early 90s. This dress is a little looser than the regular kebaya and it is suitable to match with “batik” fabric.
6. Kebaya Riau-Pahang
Baju Kebaya in Pahang is known as Baju Riau Pahang or called Turkish Kebaya. This Baju Riau Kebaya has a little difference compared to other Baju Kebaya such as having a collared and buttoned neck like a Baju Kurung Cekak Musang but the front part is split and attached with a brooch like other kebaya shirts.
7. Kebaya Pulau Pinang
Baju Kebaya Pulau Pinang is a traditional baju kebaya from the Peranakan Jawi’s, which are Indian Muslims such as Mami and Mamak. This Pulau Pinang kebaya is designed with a long cut and made of sari fabric. Baju Kebaya of Mami’s and Mamak’s have a little difference where Mami’s prefers to use lace fabric decorated with sequin embroidery while Mamak’s prefers to use Sari fabric to make Kebaya.
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