Sarong Kebaya : Peranakan Fashion and its International Sources Exhibition, Peranakan Museum

We went to the Sarong Kebaya Special Exhibition at the Peranakan Museum, which traces the evolution of the kebaya from its roots in 16th-century Islamic garments, and showed how Peranakan fashion was influenced by other communities, and eventually developed its own unique character.

The exhibit was smaller than I had expected, and due to the dim lighting, it was difficult to get good pictures with the iphone camera but here's a sneak peek.

Prints of childhood fairy tales on cloth.

Beautiful and intricate lacework.

Machine embroidery in progress.



Materials needed to make a kebaya.


Various laces.


Tidbits of information.



I like butterflies, but I never knew they stood for happiness, blessings and a long life, did you?


The special exhibition is on till 26 February 2012 so you might want to drop by the next open house.