Fashion & Beauty

Doc. OH BoutiqueONCE in a day, Adjie Notonegoro, the master of fashion designer said; "We have to promote Indonesia name, and this is the right time for us (Indonesian fashion designer) to promoting the richness of our national culture, including Kebaya!"

The statement was defined when he was in Canberra for one week until May 6, 2007, together with 17 members of 'House of Adjie', including 10 models. They were carry out Single Design Exhibition at The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Center, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra.

[Photo: Special]Moreover, Adjie said that The First Lady, Mrs. Ani Yudhoyono has succeed in claiming Kebaya as patent right of Indonesia (November, 2006). Adjie is known for his serious effort in promoting our nation culture such as batik and Kebaya.

[Photo: Special]Other 'Adjie', which will preserver and promoting Indonesian culture to the world is highly expected, since, Indonesia owns plenty of cultural heritages, such as woven cloths that not promoted well yet.

[Photo: Special]Where original Indonesian Kebaya is came from? Up to now, actual research on Kebaya is never been conducted yet. However, most people believed that Kebaya came from China mainland. The Kebaya has been adapted to local culture, and distributed to Melaka, Java, Bali, Sumatra, and Sulawesi. Finally, Kebaya was accepted as a culture and local norm through hundred years of acculturation process.

Especially in Southeast Asia, Kebaya is a peculiar traditional fashion for women of Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and Malaysia. Commonly, Kebaya made from soft-stiched brocade cloth. Kebaya usually combined with sarong, batik or other traditional woven cloths such as colorful songket.

Foto: IstimewaBefore the 16th century, In Java, Kebaya is only dressed by aristocrat women. During the Dutch colonialism, Kebaya started to use by European women. During this period, Kebaya was made in various cloths such as colorful-stitched silk.

Currently, Kebaya has become a national dress of Indonesian women, as stated at our Independence Day. At that time, people seen that The Indonesia First Lady, Mrs. Fatmawati was always used Kebaya and sarong in every national occasions. Mrs. Tien Soeharto was always used Kebaya with different characteristic, which combined with wiru cloth, while Mr. Ani Bambang Yudhoyono always perform with her modern Kebaya.

Mrs. Fatwmawati using the Kebaya [Photo: Special]Kebaya probably has become a feature of Indonesian people since it emerged through each area in Indonesia that has specific characteristics. Kebaya is perfect when combined with wiru, songket, and sarong cloths.

When spoke about kebaya's popularity in the country, Adjie explained that Kebaya has is not only for old women, but also for the younger. They have started to use Kebaya in many occasions, recently. Indonesian fashion designer also combined Kebaya with trousers.