Traditional pieces of the male and female national costumes in Malaysia: baju batik, batik, baju kebarung, baju kebaya, baju kurung, baju kurung kedah, baju melayu, ikat, kain, kemban, sampin, sarong, selendang, songket, songkok, tanjak, tengkolok, tudung.
Baju Batik – formal unisex garment made from batik cloth.
Batik – fabric made using a technique of Malay traditional wax-resist dyeing. This cloth has a unique print. It is made with a help of a copper stamp – it is used to apply wax to the fabric; then the whole cloth is soaking in one color; the wax is removed with boiling water; and the print is visible on the fabric.
Baju Kebarung – combination of baju kebaya and the baju kurung. This garment is loose and ankle-length. It is a modern adaptation rather than a traditional attire.
Baju Kebaya (kebaya) – tight-fitting two-piece dress. Kebaya consists of a dress and a blouse, made from light materials (silk, nylon, polyester, or fine cotton) and decorated with floral patterns. Kebaya is often worn with a sarong. Usually, this attire is considered non-formal and is often used by Malay women in day-to-day life.
Baju Kurung – female outfit used for formal occasions (weddings, meetings, as a school uniform, etc.). It consists of a long skirt and a knee-length or above the knee length blouse with long sleeves; the garment is bright, made from the fabric with multicolored prints.
Baju Kurung Kedah – everyday dress for married women. This outfit is shorter than formal dresses and has three-quarter sleeves.
Baju Melayu – male costume worn with a songkok or kopiah. It consists of a loose shirt with long sleeves, loose trousers, and a sampin. Baju melayu has only one button of a special kind – a “butang”. Nylon, silk, or satin is used to make Baju melayu.
Ikat (ikkat) – fabric made by a special dyeing technique. Ikat cloth is used to make different Malay garments, especially sarongs. The bundles of yarn used for ikat making are tied and dyed with a help of the traditional wax-resist dyeing technique. Then these threads are used to weave the cloth. In the end, beautiful patterns are visible on the fabric.
Kain – traditional long skirt with pleats on the side. It is a part of the baju kurung.
Kemban – female sarong tied just above the chest.
Sampin – male sarong with the ends sewn together. It is worn wrapped around the hips.
Sarong – large piece of fabric (often, tube of fabric) worn wrapped around the waist. Usually, it has colorful prints and patterns on the fabric. In Malaysia, sarong is often made using batik or ikat dyeing. It is a very popular item of Malay folk clothing. Sarongs are used in many Asian countries, in East Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Selendang – sarong used as a baby sling. This shawl is used to carry babies.
Songket – fabric traditionally produced in Malaysia. It is a handwoven brocade fabric; the cotton or silk threads intertwine with gold or silver threads. Songket has a striking shimmering effect.
Songkok – formal headdress (male cap) used in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, and Thailand. It has the shape of a truncated cone; the fabric is felt, velvet, or cotton. It is also called “peci”, “kopeah”, or “kopiah”.
Tanjak – male headdress made from a long songket cloth folded and tied in a special shape. It is used for ceremonies, weddings, and other special occasions. It is also called tengkolok, setanjak, destar, and setangan kepala.
Tengkolok – men’s headdress made from a long songket cloth folded and tied in a special shape. It is used for ceremonies, weddings, and other special occasions. It is also called tanjak, setanjak, destar, and setangan kepala.
Tudung (tudong) – female headscarf made from a sarong. It is a variation of Islam's hijab for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. Tudung covers the hair, neck, and ears; the face is left open. In Malaysia, tudung is a formal headdress used in offices, schools, other institutions, and also, for the formal occasions.
