The earliest form of Kebaya considered was originates in the court of the fifteenth century Javanese Majapahit Empire, as a means to blend the existing female Kemban, torso wrap of the noble women, to be more modest and acceptable. During the last period of Majapahit kingdom, Islamic impact began to grow in coastal Javanese towns, thus there was a need to adapt the Javanese fashion to the newly followed Islam religion. The tailored blouse, often made from sensitive sheer fabrics, were worn over kemban torso wrap to cover the back again, shoulders and arms, in order for court girls to appear more humble. 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 noted by the Portuguese when they landed in Philippines. Kebaya is associated with a type of blouse worn by Indonesian women in 15th or sixteenth century. Prior...
A kebaya is a traditional blouse-dress