Tabanan, Rainbow over Ricefields

Foreigners Desire “Balinese Kebaya”

Kebaya is a Balinese female cloth; in past times this was used when ritual ceremonies were held. Recently the kebaya is used not only when the ceremony is held, but also the foreigner uses it for informal events, cocktails, parties, and as a work dress. The designs themselves come in many varieties like” semi coats” and can be combined with trousers or the other suits.

Vini Adiguna is one kebaya designer. She is a Retail Manager with Mama and Leon. “At the beginning foreigners felt astonished, and they asked me about the product, so I tried to explain about it and finally they very interested and ordered continually. She added that recently the product was exhibited at The Westin Hotel, Nusa Dua.” said Vivi.
According to Vivi, actually kebaya’s is not only used when you go to the temple, but it can be used everywhere. In her concept there are several designs for informal events, teenagers, with combinations on it arms and intersecting on the body. Mostly her designs can be combined with many kinds of trousers.
Encim mode (Chinese kebaya) is the favorite mode that are interesting to foreigners. Generally the Kartini style like Balinese and Javanese modes are not interesting to foreigner, because it lacks variation. They also prefer the modern design with more opening on the collar and short on the arms complete with belt. Javanese and Australian are the main consumers of this product.
This product also sells to the Java and Lombok markets, except in Bali. The styles of export commodities have been modified and commonly used for fashion shows. The average consumers who used this product is about 25% (foreigner) and 75% ( local people)” Vivi explained.
At the beginning the local market was her target to promote her product but it was surprising because overseas buyers were also interested in her product. The embroidery is the favorite one and “nyolet” (the handmade painting on the textile) is the unique method that only can be found in Bali. The production was seriously commenced in June 2005. Actually the production is quite new, but it was famous everywhere in the early stages.
The main concept of her design is to keep the Balinese design; it’s meant that the product is combined with embroidery, airbrush, cornely, complete with sequin. There are thousands motifs of kebaya and ideally it was inspirited from nature, Balinese culture like flowers, temple and offering, and made by skillful workers.
At the beginning her inspiration to made kebaya design was come because the Balinese women usually used this cloth, and most of them quite difficult to find out the good one. The standard prices are about Rp 150.000-200.000.
At her shop, on Diponogoro street no 150, complex IDT B 23-24 Denpasar, she sells many kinds of cloths including kebaya, T-shirt and polo-Shirt for the hotel, spa and retail. She also made to order minimal 50 pieces. “ I also make kebaya for Bali TV announcers, the singers of video clips, fashion show and for the election of Indonesia’s princess”. She said.
This kebaya is made at the Mama & Leon Garment at Samsam Village, Tabanan Regency, about 4 Km to the west of Tabanan. It is producing 15-20 pieces kebaya per day. The raw material buys at the local market, coloring and producing in the industry.
Kebaya is a little product by Mana & Leon industry. There are some divisions in this industry with 2500 people operating a combined total of 1500 machines. One of them are boutiques, which offers metropolis style, and also cloth with many kinds motifs. These boutiques are located in several locations in Bali such as at Sanur, Four Seasons Hotel, and Ngurah Rai International Air Port. It also located in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Medan. “This boutique division especially for the tourist market, beside the other products for export to Europe, Australia, USA, Germany, Japan, Italy, France, Argentina, Russia, Poland, Thailand and next year will be export to Singapore. (BTN/015)