Kebaya is the traditional blouse found in virtually every country in Southeast Asia especially Indonesia, has evolved with the changing tides of history. Marked by the culture of the country in which it is worn, it varies from a relatively loose blouse to a high-corseted jacket in lace or other luxury material.
Kebaya is probably found in as more kinds as there are ethnic groups, but what is predominantly understood as the “kebaya” derives from the kebaya as it is known in the Javanese tradition of the elite. It is fairly tight and worn with a special woman’s brassiere — the long torso — to cover up eventual unsightly bulges of the flesh.
While kebaya may be viewed as femininity personified in terms of women’s clothing, and designers have indeed raised it to the level of high fashion, artists have often linked it with the Javanese tradition of make-believe.
Today Kebaya have many motifs and patterns, Some called a kebaya moderns. Kebaya moderns appears inspired by young designers who have an education abroad. This adds to the repertoire of Kebaya in the archipelago.