TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Women promote 'kebaya' wearing at MRT station
“We are promoting this to remember that [the kebaya] is our national dress.”
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
'Kebaya' (traditional blouse) enthusiasts stage #SelasaBerkebaya (let’s wear kebaya on Tuesday) at Dukut Atas MRT Station in South Jakarta on June 25. (kompas.com/Nibras Nada Nailufar)
A
number of kebaya (traditional Indonesian blouse) enthusiasts campaigned on Tuesday to promote #SelasaBerkebaya (Let’s wear the kebaya) at Dukuh Atas MRT Station in South Jakarta.
The women wore a variety of kebaya in different patterns and individual styles including the kutubaru pattern and the kebaya encim style of peranakan Chinese women.
Some combined the kebaya with batik skirts, while others wore pants.
The women took pictures and danced in front of the station to gain public attention.
Rahmi Hidayati from the Komunitas Perempuan Berkebaya (women wearing the kebaya community) said the movement sought to make wearing kebaya the norm.
“We are promoting this to remember that [the kebaya] is our national dress,” said Rahmi as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.
She added that the kebaya united Indonesian women from Sabang to Merauke, the country's westernmost and easternmost parts.
“These dress items are really nice, why aren’t we wearing them? For Muslims there are long-sleeve kebaya that still appear nice, very Indonesian,” Rahmi said.
In Jakarta, women can wear kebaya for day to day work as she does herself, if not the kebaya can be worn on the weekend casually, she said.
“Let’s wear it if we have the time, such as on the weekends while going to the mall or reunions, Just wear the kebaya daily,” Rahmi said. (tru)
