Indonesia's Traditional Fabrics

Indonesia is a country which has so many cultures and traditions. One of the greatest Indonesia’s heritages is traditional fabric. In every region/island in Indonesia, there is at least one kind of traditional fabric.

 

Here is the most famous traditional fabrics/kain from Indonesia:

1. Kain Batik, from Java island

* Silk Batik, from Central Java, such as Pekalongan batik, Solo batik, Yogyakarta batik, etc.

* Kain Batik from West Java, such as Cirebon Batik, Tasik Batik, Batik Garutan

* Each of the kain/fabric represents the localities, values, even history.

* The motif from kain batik usually made by hand (hand drawn) using “canting” that contained liquid wax to arrange in layers wanted motif. There are also Batik Cap (stamped batik) and Printed Batik.

2. Kain Songket (Brocade Hand-Woven Fabric), from Sumatera island

* Kain Songket usually came from West or South Sumatera

* Fabric with gold and silver metallic brocade, originally used real gold threads, therefore it luxurious and used to wear as clothes of the kings, back in the Sriwijaya empire period. Nowadays, songket is worn on special occasions such as wedding or any other formal reception. 

3. Kain Jumputan Palembang (Dyed Textile from South Sumatera)

* Jumputan usually made from silk and has motif on all over the fabric.

  * Jumputan recently, has been made by stitch and dyed method. Stitch the thread to the fabric by tying certain pattern. The next step is pull it tight until wrinkle then dyed it. 

4. Kain Tenun (Hand-Woven Fabric)

* Usually came from Samarinda, East Kalimantan
* Kain Tenun also came from Bali, Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara with different patterns or color preferences.

Indonesian Traditional Dress

Dress is the identity of any nation. It is the thing which tells you the nationality of a person without even asking. Every country has its own traditional dress. In Indonesia, we have so many traditional dress but kebaya is the most famous traditional dress of all.



Kebaya


Kebaya is a traditional dress from Java Island in Indonesia. Although it came from 1 of the biggest island in Indonesia, kebaya is becoming a national dress since it can be used in many formal and official party dress also informal occasions in Indonesia.

Kebaya can be wear not only by adults and teens but children can also wear kebaya. As the development of the fashion world, this traditional fashion was changed into the clothes that no longer unusual. There are many kinds of kebaya which are Javanese kebaya, Sundanese kebaya, Balinese kebaya, kebaya Encim, etc.

Encim Kebaya 

Balinese Kebaya

 Kebaya can change into sexy female figure, slim, and elegant on every occasion. Wedding can be a perfect occasion to worn a fully designed kebaya with unique embroidery and accessories. Other interesting thing how to wear kebaya is that it can be worn in non-formal events, such as hang out or any outdoor events at the office. Kebaya can be worn with pants or jeans fabric by choosing a simple kebaya like kebaya encim or without croton. Or choose kebaya with cotton, silk, santung print with various pieces such as blazers, kimono, brackets, short sleeve with embroidery and lace accents, also suitable to be worn in non-formal activities.

Modern kind of kebaya

Kebaya as a wedding dress

Modern Javanese Wedding Kebaya

Wedding gown kebaya

Kebaya with Hijab