Kebaya: A Multiculture of Dressing in Southwestern Baba Women

Abstract

This study investigates the dressing culture of Baba females in Thailand's southern region, focusing on the dress known as Kebaya, which has long been popular among Baba females of all ages. The dress is made up of a long-sleeved shirt that is knee length
with a v-shaped edge at the front and thigh length at the back; the front strips of the shirt are secured by a pin called Keronsang or Kerosang Rantey instead of buttons. Baba females usually wear this dress on special occasions.

It is founded that the Kebaya dress worn by Baba females in Satul, Trang, Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong, and Phuket is a simplified version of the stand collar dress and knee length gown. There are three different styles of the dress, including 1) Kebaya Landa, which is a loose colorful cotton shirt. This style's fabric is thick and has a pattern. The sleeves and shirt are edged with thick lace in a western style; 2) Kabaya Biku, which is tailored from a machine-engraved fabric with curving cutwork around the entire edge of the shirt; and 3) Kebaya Sulam, which is tailored from thin rupiah ramie in a slim fit pattern, with the front of the shirt traditionally embroidered with the hoop to create patterns of auspicious animals, flowers, and plants. Nowadays, various fabrics are used to make Kebaya, which is also known as a Nyon nya dress. In special occasions, Baba females still wear hand painted batik sorong from Kedah, Malaysia, along with their favorite accessories to indicate their social status.