Kebaya

A Kebaya is a traditional blouse worn by Indonesian and Malaysian women, sometimes made from sheer material and usually worn with a sarong, batik, or other traditional knitted garment such as a songket with a colorful motif.

Kebaya is originated from Arab region;[1] the Arabic word of Kaba means clothing. The name of Kebaya as a particular clothing type was introduced by the Portuguese when they landed on Southeast Asia. Kebaya is associated with a type of blouse worn by Indonesian women in 15th or 16th century. Other believed that Kebaya is originated from China hundreds of years ago, spreading to the Southeast Asia in the 13th to 16th century.[citation needed]
The earliest form of Kebaya was first came from the north of the Indonesian archipelago. The clothing type began to spread to Malacca, Java, Bali, Sumatra, Borneo and Sulawesi. After hundred years of acculturation, the garments have become adjusted to local customs and culture.
Prior 1600, kebaya on Java island were considered as a sacred clothing to be worn only by members of the Javanese monarchy. During Dutch colonization of the island, European women began wearing kebaya as formal dress. During this period, kebaya, that was originally made from mori fabric, were modified with silk embroidered with colorful patterns.