The earliest form of Kebaya considered was originates in the court of the 15th century Javanese Majapahit Kingdom, as a means to blend the existing female Kemban, upper body wrap of the aristocratic women, to be more modest and acceptable. Throughout the last period of Majapahit kingdom, Islamic influence commenced to grow in coastal Javanese towns, thus there was a need to adapt the Javanese fashion to the newly used Islam religion. The tailored blouse, often made from sensitive sheer fabrics, were worn over kemban torso cover to cover the back, shoulders and arms, in order for court females to appear more moderate. Aceh, Riau and Johor Kingdoms and Northern Sumatra adopted the Javanese style kebaya as a means of social expression of status with the more alus or refined Javanese overlords.The name of Kebaya as a particular clothing type was observed by the Portuguese when they landed in Philippines. Kebaya is associated with a type of shirt worn by Indonesian women in 15th or 16th cen...
A kebaya is a traditional blouse-dress