The Betawi Culture Skyrocketed Even More

The Department of Tourism and the National Crafts Council for Regional (Dekranasda) of DKI Jakarta presented a fashion show full of Betawi culture from Roemah Betawi, Rumah Kebaya and Batik Chic. The kebaya encim (a nickname for a married Chinese woman) looked more modern and colorful on this show.

Roemah Kebaya, whose specialty is making kebaya encim, picked the theme “Glamorocious of Encim” and presented the pieces with the rousing and glorious manual-embroidery. The contrasted colors blended with Pekalongan batik gave the feminine and graceful accent. The shorter design ala bolero also gave a tall and slimming effect for the wearers.

Novita Yunus who is still consistent in batik showcased dragon and phoenix motifs – the two well-known Chinese legendary creatures. She applied these two motifs in clothes, bags and accessories. This time, Novita also combined the sogan batik with Chinese symbols. This was meant to bring awareness that the combination of sogan batik and Chinese symbols can create a beautiful look.

Emma Damayanti from the label Rumah Betawi exhibited the simple and gorgeous kebaya encim. In her hands, this Betawi traditional clothing looked different with jeans material and flower and fauna elements found in the soft embroidery. Her design of kebaya encim was mixed with the contemporary-Betawi-motif batik like Ngarak, Tanjidor, Ondel-ondel, Si Pitung, the masked Blantek dancer, Betawi family, Betawi village, and many others. Emma hoped that many people would wear and like her modern Betawi design in building awareness to preserve the traditional culture. (Imma Rachmani/Pesona)