http://www.kebayas.com/ Home Made Nyonya Kebaya Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:06:54 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/ http://www.kebayas.com/index.html
The Nyonya Kebaya is a beautiful, translucent, figure-hugging embroidered blouse worn with a batik sarong by Peranakan ladies.

It is this and much more. A nyonya kebaya is a work of art, a labour of love, a heritage, a traditional costume that is timeless. An attire for all occasions, it is elegant, feminine, alluring, sensual, glamorous and fashionable for all ages.

However, an authentic nyonya kebaya tends to come with a price tag that is not within the budget of many people. My passion for it has evolved into a home-based business of making affordable nyonya kebayas. Except for the Exclusive Collection, I tailor every piece. I sew them as close as possible to the traditional style using princess cut (pesak) and French seams.

Materials are of select Indonesian embroidered fabric with intricate lace-work edging in floral, fauna and geometric patterns for the hems, sleeves and lapels. I do not make to measure but take orders in standard sizes of small, medium and large, which would fit most people.

You are invited to view the Kebaya Collection available now on-line. Select your favourite piece today and own a fabulous kebaya!]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:06:54 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya.html Nyonya Kebayas are a hot commodity among fashion designers but the sense of tradition is either missing in many of the new fusion designs or lost in the hefty price tags.

Not wanting to see glitter and glamour get in the way of what a truly traditional Nyonya Kebaya is, Penang Nyonya Lily Yew Chooi Lian took up the hobby of sewing the transparent garments three years ago.

Spending about five hours to make one kebaya, Yew has made numerous garments for friends and family and has had several of her creations flying off to distant places like San Francisco and Saigon.

“What used to be worn for going out of the house is now reserved for festive and formal occasions and it is a pity because the Kebaya is so elegant and beautiful,” said Yew.

“The Kebaya is part of my cultural heritage and it looks good for all occasions, which is why I took up sewing the blouses three years ago,” she added.

While the more than RM1,000 price tag on most modern Kebayas prevent many from owning one, Yew does what she can to spread her love for the traditional wear by making it affordable for friends and family.

Her quest for affordable material was a long one because the embroidered sleeves and hems are difficult to do.

“The motifs are done by machine and are usually floral but with the imagination of some embroiderers, you can find cute animals, insects, geishas in kimonos, little China dolls, dragons and phoenix, to name a few,” said Yew.

Luckily, Yew was able to find a cheaper alternative with a shop that orders the material from Indonesia, but stocks can be sporadic.

“I like my Kebayas elegant and feminine so I sew them as close to the traditional style as possible with princess cut (pesak) and all French seams.”

This style leaves no margin for mistakes and makes it very hard to sew, which is why Yew only does them in standard sizes of small, medium and large.

Yew is open to orders from people but stressed that she is only sewing the Kebayas in her spare time as she is a busy grandmother. Yew has a variety of fabrics that customers can use to make the transparent blouse.

“I want to share my love for the Kebaya and make it affordable,” said Yew.

“I try to sew a whole range of colours to suit everyone and I also have pieces of embroidered materials in different shades for clients to choose from, but I do not make to measure.”

The Kebaya began as a long sleeved blouse with lace appliquéd around the edges. It is the traditional costume of Straits Chinese ladies and other Peranakan women from Indonesia and Thailand.

It is worn with a Javanese batik sarong and to be properly dressed, a Nyonya will have her hair in a chignon (sanggul) with flowers and gold pins.

The lapel of the Nyonya Kebaya is held together with a set of three brooches (kerosang) while the sarong is folded and secured with a gold or silver chain-link belt.

For the feet, beaded slippers are a must. In Penang Hokkien, the Kebaya is called Pua T’ng Teh, meaning midway between long and short.

For the modern look, the Kebaya can be worn with pants, over a simple sleeveless or spaghetti-strapped dress or even used over a tank top as a jacket.

Materials used to make the Kebaya include coarse voile (kasar robia), non-iron georgette and shantung for its lovely sheen.

Nyonya Kebaya has to be hand washed, using a little starch for the voile ones so they can last a long time. Antique pieces have lasted through the years because of the use of starch.

]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:07 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_collection.html Prices range from RM150 to RM1500
We Accept International Orders]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:11 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exclusive.html Authentic Penang Nyonya Kebayas made by the experts in the traditional style.

A work of art, a thing of beauty and a joy to own.Orders in a different size will take 3 to 4 weeks.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:15 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exclusive1.html Nyonya Kebaya - Black Swiss voile cut in the traditional style of a narrower back piece for a slimming effect. Special 'handkerchief stitch' with perforations on the princess cut French seams.

All over sprinkling of blue flowers'Chicken mesh' cut-out lace workPrice : RM1500]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:17 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exclusive2.html Nyonya Kebaya - Mustard yellow Swiss voile with 'railway track' lace work.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:21 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exclusive3.html Nyonya Kebaya - Maroon Swiss voile using two-tone coloured thread.

'Railway track' cut-out lace workPrice : RM1500]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:24 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exclusive4.html Authentic Nyonya Kebaya in Deep Purple Swiss voile cut in the traditional style of a narrower back piece for a slimming effect. Special 'handkerchief stitch' with perforations on the princess cut French seams.

All over sprinkling of purple flowers'Chicken mesh' cut-out lace workPrice : RM1500]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:27 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exclusive5.html Authentic Nyonya Kebaya in Bright Turquoise Swiss voile cut in the traditional style of a narrower back piece for a slimming effect. Special 'handkerchief stitch' with perforations on the princess cut French seams.

All over sprinkling of pink flowers'Railway track' cut-out lace workPrice : RM1500]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:30 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exclusive6.html Authentic Nyonya Kebaya in Sweet Mauve Swiss voile cut in the traditional style of a narrower back piece for a slimming effect. Special 'handkerchief stitch' with perforations on the princess cut French seams.

All over sprinkling of yellow flowers'Chicken mesh' cut-out lace workPrice : RM800]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:34 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exclusive6.html Authentic Nyonya Kebaya in Black Swiss voile cut in the traditional style of a narrower back piece for a slimming effect. Special 'handkerchief stitch' with perforations on the princess cut French seams.

Tiny butterflies fluttering all over'Chicken mesh' cut-out lace workPrice : RM1500]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:37 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exclusive8.html Authentic Nyonya Kebaya in Blue Swiss voile cut in the traditional style of a narrower back piece for a slimming effect. Special 'handkerchief stitch' with perforations on the princess cut French seams.

All over sprinkling of tiny blue flowersCut-out work on embroidered crescentsPrice : RM800]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:40 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_unique.html Kebaya - A selection of unique pieces in voile, silk, chiffon and georgette.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:44 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_exquisite.html Kebaya - Colourful flora and fauna on plain voile in the traditional Nyonya style.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:47 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_intricate.html Beautifully embroidered designs on plain voile fabric in the nyonya style]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:50 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_classic.html Simple self-coloured embroidery on plain voile in the traditional style. Fabric length sufficient for 'Small' and 'Medium' sizes only.Price : RM350]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:53 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_affordable1.html Kebaya - Beautiful pieces in plain voile, kasar robia / speckled voile, patterned cotton and cotton mix.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:56 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_affordable2.html Kebaya - Colourful floral embroidery on kasar robia / speckled voile.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:00 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_affordable3.html Kebaya - Self coloured embroidery on kasar robia / speckled voile.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:04 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_howto.html Method 1 : Cash and Cary
Method 2 : On-line Order
]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:07 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_size.html Kebayas are made in standard sizes of Small, Medium and Large. Sizes are according to kebaya measurements and not body measurements. Nyonya kebayas are meant to be body hugging. If you wish to wear it looser, choose a bigger size.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:11 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_features.html
- Care Instructions -All nyonya kebayas are to be hand washed separately. A little starching is best for those made of voile or cotton. Warm iron for voile, cotton and cotton mix. Cool setting for chiffon, georgette and silk.

- Kebaya Embroidery -All kebaya embroideries are specially machine made by individual craftsmen. Variations are natural characteristic inherent during the process.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:08:40 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/sarong_pareo.html http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:09:08 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/sarong_traditional.html http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:09:48 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/kebaya_shipping.html The Kebaya can be shipped Locally and Internationally via Poslaju National Courier and tracked here. A single packaged Kebaya will weigh less than 500gm.

All prices are quoted in Malaysia Ringgit (MYR). For your convenience, you may use a currency converter tool here to estimate the shipping cost in your country's currency.
]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:14 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/sarong.html A sarong is large sheet of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn as a skirt by men and women in southeast Asia and Pacific islands, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia. The fabric is often brightly coloured or printed with intricate patterns, often depicting animals or plants, checkered or geometric patterns, or resembling the results of tie dying. Sarongs are also used as wall hangings and other forms of clothing, such as shawls, baby carriers, complete dresses or upper body clothing. In North America, sarongs are often used by women as a cover-up over swimwear.Sarongs are also widespread in the South Indian state of Kerala, where they are called mundu. Unlike the brightly coloured Southeast Asian sarongs, the Keralan variety is more often plain white. Mundu are generally worn only by men in this region (women are more likely to wear a sari).North American sarongs may have decorative fringing on two sides. They may also have ties, which are long thin strips of fabric used to assist the wearer in holding the sarong to his body so it does not fall off while moving around.If a sarong does not have ties, a pin may be used, or the fabric may be tightly tucked under itself in layers to hold it in place. Numerous tying methods exist, in some cases customarily differing between genders of wearer. A belt may also be used to hold the sarong in place.In North America, the fabric of the sarong is generally quite light, often rayon. Modern sarong users, especially in North America and Europe, are women and the item is associated as a swimwear accessory or a cover-up. For current modern uses, there are several popular instructional pages that teach how to tie a sarong or how to tie a pareoThe sarong making process is most commonly known as ‘Batik’, which, in Indonesia, means “to ‘dot.’” This process is highly artistic and very technical. Hand-drawn designs are converted onto fabric with wax (this is the part of ‘batik’), then the fabric is dyed, scraped, and dyed again color by color until the design is complete. The Sarong is then air dried. Only the strongest natural fabrics such as silk, cotton, and rayon, will endure the blistering water temperatures and the Batik process and remain resilient and strong enough to be a ‘wash and wear’ sarong product.Another method of sarong making includes hand painting images onto silk using a “gutta resist” technique. These images are then re-produced on silk screens and hand printed on to each sarong. The final product is a beautiful tropical sarong.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:18 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/batik.html Batik or batique is an Indonesian-Malay word and refers to a generic wax-resist dyeing technique used on fabric. The word originates from Malay word for dot or point, "titik" and the Javanese word "amba", meaning ”to write”.It is found in several countries but most popular in Indonesia and Malaysia. The island of Java in Indonesia is famous for its batik. Melted wax is applied to cloth before being dipped in dye. Wherever the wax has seeped through the fabric, the dye will not penetrate. Sometimes several colors are used, with a series of dyeing, drying and waxing steps.Thin wax lines are made with a canting, a tiny metal cup with a tiny spout, out of which the wax seeps. Other methods of applying the wax onto the fabric include pouring the liquid wax, painting the wax on with a brush, and applying the hot wax to a precarved wooden or metal wire block and stamping the fabric.After the last dyeing, the fabric is hung up to dry. Then it is dipped in a solvent to dissolve the wax, or ironed between paper towels or newspapers to absorb the wax and reveal the deep rich colors and the fine crinkle lines that give batik its character.The invention of the copper block, cap, developed by the Javanese in the 20th century revolutionised batik production. It became possible to make high quality designs and intricate patterns much faster than one could possibly do by hand-painting.As compared to the more Indonesian Batik, which are mystic-influenced and carry illustrations of animals and people, Malaysian batik have brighter hues and more versatile patterns. Kelantan on the eastern coast of Malaysia is the home of Malaysian batik. ProcedureHeat the wax in a tin can sitting in a pan of water. This makes sure the wax stays an even temperature and does not begin to smoke or burn. Dry the fabric bone-dry before waxing or the wax will not penetrate the fabric. Use cattle urea tablets to give the dye a real bite in the fabric. This produces rich colors. Some people use vinegar and salt instead. Use paraffin wax if you want lots of crinkle lines. More beeswax if you want less crinkles. ]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:21 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/peranakan.html Peranakan, Baba-Nyonya (????) and Straits Chinese (after the Straits of Malacca) (????) are terms used for the descendants of the early Chinese immigrants to the Nusantara region, including both the British Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang and the Dutch-controlled island of Java among other places.The word Peranakan is also used to describe Indonesian Chinese. In both Malay and Bahasa Indonesia 'Peranakan' means 'descendants'. Babas refer to the male descendants and the Nyonyas the female.Most Peranakan are of Hokkien ancestry, although a fair denomination of them are of the Teochew or Cantonese descent. Written records from the 19th and early 20th centuries show that Peranakan men usually took brides from within the local Peranakan community. Peranakan families also commonly imported brides from China and sent their daughters to China to find husbands. A small group of Indian Peranakans, known as the Chitty, do exist as well. LanguageTheir language, Baba Malay [Bahasa Melayu Baba] , is a dialect of the Malay language [Bahasa Melayu], which contains many Hokkien words. It is a dying language and contemporary use is mainly limited to members of the older generation; this is indicative also of the Peranakan culture at large. HistoryIn the 15th century, the city states of the Malay Peninsula often paid tribute to various kingdoms such as the kingdoms of China and Siam. In return for such tribute, a princess of China was presented as a gift to the Sultan of Malacca at that time. The royalty and servants who accompanied the princess eventually grew into a class of straits-born Chinese known as the Peranakan. The Peranakan retained most of their ethnic and religious origins (ancestor worship), but assimilated the language and culture of the Malays. They developed a unique culture and distinct foods. A lot of sources claim that the early Peranakan inter-married with the local Malay population. However, the lack of physical resemblances have also led many experts to believe that the Peranakan Chinese ethnicity has hardly diluted. The Peranakan often sent their sons and daughters to China to look for spouses. Also, the religion of the local Malay population was Islam which forbids inter-marriage with other religions without conversion first. In the early 1800s, new Chinese immigrants to the Straits Settlements bolstered the Peranakan population.By the middle of the Twentieth century, most Peranakan were English educated, as a result of the British colonisation of Malaya, and the natural propensity of these people who were able to easily embrace new cultures. Because the Peranakans readily embraced English culture and education, administrative and civil service posts were often filled by prominent Straits Chinese. The interaction with the British also caused many in the community to convert to Christianity. The Peranakan community thereby became very influential in Malacca and Singapore and were known also as the King's Chinese due to their perceived loyality to the British Crown. Because of the interaction of the different cultures and languages that Peranakans had, up to the mid-1900s, most Peranakans were trilingual, able to converse with Chinese, Malays and the British. Common vocations were as merchants, traders, and general intermediaries between China, Malaya and the West; the latter was especially valued by the British, since the Babas also enjoyed good relations with the Malay community and served as advisors to the royal Malay courts. In fact the term "Baba" is a honorific term in Malay; probably derived from Hindi/Sanskrit [Baba: literally means grandfather or father, and is used as a term of reverence and affection for an elderly gentleman]. CultureHistorical and cultural items from the Baba culture are displayed in cultural establishments on Heereen Street and Jonker Street in Malacca and in Penang in Malaysia, and at the Peranakan Museum in Singapore. There one can find museums displaying furnitures, foodwares, and even traditional clothes of the Baba and Nonya. There are also a small number of "Nyonya" restaurants in Singapore, Penang, Malacca, and the West.The Peranakans were partially assimilated into the Malay culture (especially in food, dress, and language), while retaining some Chinese traditions (religion, name, and ethnic identitity), thereby creating a fusion culture of their own. For instance, from their Malay influence, a unique "Nyonya" cuisine has developed using the spices of Malay cuisine (examples are Chicken Kapitan, a dry chicken curry, and Inchi Kabin, a Nyonya version of fried chicken). The women (Nyonyas) have taken to wearing the baju kebaya (a Malay dress, seen most notably as the uniform of Malaysia and Singapore Airlines' female flight attendants). However, most of the Peranakans are not Muslim, and have retained the ancestral worship tradition of the Chinese; though some converted to Christianity. The wedding ceremony of the Peranakan is largely based on Chinese tradition, and is one of the most fascinating wedding ceremonies in Malaysia and Singapore.The cause for their cultural extinction is largely due to racial politics and economics brought about by nationalism in Singapore and Malaysia. Without colonial British support for their perceived racial neutrality, Peranakans feel pressured to assimilate back into the mainstream Chinese culture in both countries following independence from the British. In Singapore, the Peranakans are classified as ethnically Chinese by government policies, and because second language instruction (so-called "Mother Tongue") is decided based on ethnicity, this requires them to learn Mandarin Chinese instead of Malay in formal education. While in Malaysia, the standardisation of Malay [Bahasa Melayu Malaysia] -required for all ethnic groups- has led to a disappearance of the unique characteristics of Baba Malay.]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:24 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/nyonya_books.html Books on Nyonya Kebaya, Batik and Nyonya Cuisine]]> http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:30 +0800 http://www.kebayas.com/fashion.html http://www.kebayas.com/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:33 +0800