Kebaya, a timeless yet trendy fashion statement

Free Malaysia Today

Recognised by Unesco, this traditional attire with a rich history has also embraced modern interpretations.   Written and presented by: Hanbai Zhang and Theevya Ragu  Shot by: Afizi Ismail  Edited by: Maheshan Morgan   Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2025/08/11/the-kebaya-across-time-a-unesco-recognised-legacy   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTLifestyle #RimbunKL #Kebaya

Transcript

00:00Fashion is all about crossing borders.

00:03When FMT intern Han Bai Zhang, an aspiring designer from China,

00:07began exploring Malaysian fashion,

00:10her first stop was Rimbon KL in Puchong,

00:13a boutique that specializes in kebaya.

00:1522-year-old Aini Kalisha, fondly known as Suna,

00:32started her business five years ago, right after completing her SPM.

00:37From designing and selling her own kebaya outfits online,

00:40she opened a physical store a year ago to showcase all her pieces.

00:45How Rimbon KL is different than others is basically we don't sell it as a set.

00:54We sell it separately, as you can see.

00:55There's no such thing as a set,

00:57which is customer, they can mix and match it however they like.

01:01And let's just say you don't want to wear it with batik,

01:03you want to wear it with skirts or maybe jeans, you can also do that.

01:07Rimbon KL offers a wide range,

01:10from traditional nyonya kebaya and lace designs

01:13to modern sequined styles, including free and plus-size options.

01:18This is one of my newest collections.

01:22I wore this to my first ever radio interview last two weeks.

01:28And then I'm half Chinese,

01:30so I suka wet, you know,

01:32like mix and matching the chiong sam detail into baju kurung.

01:36So it's really cute.

01:37And we have it in four different colours.

01:40I just hope that they can like style kebaya in a way that they wanted to,

01:45not in a way of like how society always asks them to.

01:48Because a lot of Chinese and Indians when they come,

01:51the most asked question was,

01:54is this appropriate?

01:55Can you wear this?

01:56Is it appropriate for a Malay wedding?

01:58I was like, yeah!

01:59A Malay wedding, you can wear whatever.

02:01Here's Han Bai trying on a few of their popular pieces.

02:09She also decided to experiment by pairing this kebaya with a mamiyan skirt,

02:15inspired by ancient Chinese fashion.

02:18While the kebaya has evolved over time,

02:21it's equally important to explore its origins.

02:24FMT Lifestyle spoke with Cedric Tan,

02:27an expert who contributed to the UNESCO submission for the kebaya.

02:32We came up with a definition for the kebaya.

02:36Number one, it must be an open-fronted attire.

02:39It cannot be something that you, you know, slip in.

02:43So baju kurung is out.

02:46Number two, it has also additional lapels in front.

02:52So if you are rather bubbly,

02:56so the lapel can be broader.

02:57So it fits your body.

03:00It's not a figure-hugging attire.

03:02It's just a loose form of attire.

03:04And then,

03:06the third characteristic of the kebaya is that it has a dresset.

03:10In Malay, it's called a keket.

03:12It's a sort of extension underneath the armpit

03:16and allows free movements of the arm into the attire.

03:20Yeah.

03:22These are the simpler form of embroidery.

03:25Very animated.

03:27Again, as I say,

03:28it all depends on the creativity

03:32and, what I call it,

03:34the ingenuity of the embroiderers.

03:37So you can sew almost anything on the kebaya.

03:41Yeah.

03:41And it is,

03:44you know,

03:44it made it very, very special to the wearer,

03:48to the owner.

03:49Yeah.

03:50Like this.

03:51Squirrels.

03:51So, what's his take on the modernisation of kebaya?

03:58When we talk about the promotion of a traditional attire,

04:04especially in a cultural context,

04:09then we need to hold fast to the traditional look for me.

04:14Okay.

04:15Some people may disagree.

04:16Yeah.

04:16But when it comes to events that's more informal,

04:25casual,

04:26I'm fine with people,

04:27you know,

04:28putting on kebaya as an overcoat,

04:30you know,

04:31they wear a camisole underneath

04:32and then just slip on kebaya,

04:34putting on the jeans or even any form of skirt

04:38or, you know,

04:39just plain skirts.

04:41I'm fine.

04:42Because I felt that

04:43we should give the modern folks

04:48an opportunity to appreciate the kebaya

04:50on their own terms first.

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