GUIDE TO TRADITIONAL DRESSES IN MALAYSIA 

Malaysian culture is very diverse and rich. Various people from different continents of the world live in Malaysia. They have distinct cultures, traditions and even outfits. Mostly Malay people, Chinese and Indians live in the beautiful land. Malay people dress like westerners and only on special occasions dress in traditional Malay wear. The multi color vibrancy of the dresses of various people in Malaysia makes the culture more distinct and diverse. Since there are so many communities living in harmony in Malaysia, they have a group of different attires that make each community so special and unique.

Let's look at some of the traditional wear of each community in Malaysia:

The Malay Community

The most prominent community in Malaysia is the Malay people. They wear the traditional dress called Pakaian. The dress is usually coloured in bright and colourful hues, and it is different for both males and females. The females wear the blouse Labuh and Kemban. Kemban is a dress which includes sarongs tied over the chest and makes the wearer feel distinctly Malaysian. The usual traditional dress for women in Malaysia is the blouse Labuh and Baju Kurung, which includes a full-sleeve blouse and a long skirt called kain. The skirt is pleated one side and then tied on the waist. The attire is completed with a scarf on the head. A semi-formal version of this dress is called a kebaya, and it is a two-piece, skin-fit costume for the day. Malay men dress in an attire called Baju Melayu and wear a loose, wavy tunic paired with trousers. The sarong of these men is known as Sampin. Most Malay men wear a traditional hat called Songkok or Kopiah to complete their cultural attire. There is also another variation to the dress where men prefer to wear batik-printed shirts and trousers for a burst of colours and designs.

Many Malaysian people search for ‘dress online Malaysia’ and buy their clothes from online shops in the e-commerce market.

Chinese

Chinese people in Malaysia do not dress up in traditional attires regularly. They usually dress up in casual outfits. But, during many festivals, like the Chinese New Year, these people dress up in their traditional Chinese gowns and dresses made of silk. It is a rare sight but, Chinese men in Malaysia dress up in their traditional dress called tang suit. Tang suit is a long jacket dress for males. It has a collar, knot at the belly and mostly features floral motifs and designs. It has been named after the famous Chinese empire called the Tang empire, which is also a name used to refer Chinese people by foreigners. Chinese women in Malaysia wear the traditional dress for women called Cheongsam. They usually dress in such attire on formal occasions and festivals. Cheongsam is also called Qipao. It is a one-piece dress made up of silk and has a collar on the top and clasps at the waist. The clasps could be at the centre or either side of the waist. Older women dress in Samfoo, and it is a dress which is an ankle-length pants with a top with clasps at the waist. Many Chinese people prefer to search for ‘dress online Malaysia’ and buy their clothes from online shops.

Indians

There are fair trade relations between India and Malaysia. Hence, Indians get a fair share of clothing from their native country to Malaysia quickly. Most Indians wear traditional clothes in Malaysia. Indian men in Malaysia wear kurta pyjama, dhoti and lungi-kurta as their traditional attire. Kurta is a knee-length shirt native to India. Sherwani is a decorative version of Kurta that is worn on special occasions, festivals, and weddings. Dhoti and lung are baggy lower that are tied in a single piece of cloth over the waist. Indian women in Malaysia wear a sari and a blouse. Saree is a six-yard fabric with pleats at the centre. It is then tied in a sash over to the shoulders and the knees. Many women prefer to wear salwar kurta, which is a traditional top and lower for women. It is covered with a dupatta over the top, which is a long scarf.