Batik, The Original Indonesian Heritage, As Traditional Javanese Wedding Attire

Weddings may differ from culture to culture, but regardless of religion, time and place, the essence of wedding ceremonies remains the same. Weddings serve as a way for partners to vow eternal commitment to each other in the eyes of the law and their respective church.

In the same way that wedding customs and practices vary, traditional wedding attire also differs according to specific cultures. Traditional wedding attire in the Javanese culture includes the use of the kebaya and batik clothing.





The word “batik” is an Indonesian term that describes a generic wax-resist dyeing technique used to create intricate and detailed patterns on different fabrics. Batik is more than just a textile technique; it is considered an art from that is approximately over a millennium old. The art of creating batik is said to have originated either in ancient Sumeria or ancient Egypt.

Batik spread to other countries in West Africa and in Asia. Although batik patterns are also created in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Iran and Thailand, the most popular designs and styles originated in Indonesia.



Batik textiles come in different colors, designs and styles. These designs can range from simple to intricate, dual colored to multi-colored.

For a traditional Javanese wedding, batik sarongs paired with the kebaya are the usual costume.







thanks to: http://im-fashion-holic.blogspot.com/2009/06/memilih-busana-pengantin.html; http://lovejournal.widjanarti.com; http://fancyweddingattire.com; http://lovejournal.widjanarti.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/soloputri.jpg; http://mudahmenikah.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/mudahmenikah80.jpg;

Kebaya As Wedding Gown, Bridal Gown...

While most modern brides are perfectly happy with wearing modern and western wedding dresses designed by the world’s top designers, a traditional wedding dress is a great way to pay homage to your culture and your country.Whether you’re from Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore or Indonesia, wearing a bridal kebaya is a great way for you to infuse your country’s culture into your modern wedding.

 

The “kebaya” is a form or traditional blouse that is worn by women in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Most kebayas are made from diaphanous materials, and are worn with a songket, a sarong, batik or any traditional knitted garment that has a colorful and detailed motif.

Most traditional women prefer the bridal kebaya over Western wedding dresses, not just because of the clothing’s cultural significance, but also due to the silhouette the dress creates. The right kebaya can easily accentuate your figure, giving you an incredibly feminine appearance.




To help keep up with the public’s demand, more and more fashion designers are looking for ways in which they can modify the kebaya design and turn it into a more fashionable dress. Most designers are also experimenting with different gossamer fabrics like lace, to create more delicate and appealing bridal kebaya.





Kebayas come in different colors and designs. The key to finding the perfect kebaya is looking at its embroidery or detailing. While most casual kebayas have simple floral embroidery, you will find more formal and intricate designs on kebayas with almost completely sheer jackets decorated only with delicate gold or silver embroideries.









taken from: http://www.butikherma.com; http://fancyweddingattire.com;
http://payetgaunpesta.blogspot.com/2009/11/harga-jahit-gaun-pesta-kebaya-dan-gaun.html; http://lovejournal.widjanarti.com; and http://www.flickr.com/photos/noorhilmi/3614017216/