The first form of Kebaya considered was originates in the court of the 15th century Javanese Majapahit Kingdom, as a way to blend the existing female Kemban, torso wrap of the aristocratic women, to be more modest and acceptable. During the last period of Majapahit kingdom, Islamic influence started out to grow in coastal Javanese towns, thus there was a need to adapt the Javanese fashion to the newly used Islam religion. The customized blouse, often created from sensitive sheer fabrics, were worn over kemban torso wrap to cover the back again, shoulders and arms, in order for court women to appear more modest. 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 mentioned by the Portuguese when they landed in Indonesia. Kebaya is associated with a type of shirt worn by Indonesian women in 15th or sixteenth centu...
A kebaya is a traditional blouse-dress