GEORGE TOWN, Dec 8 — There has been a marked interest in Penang’s colourful Nyonya kebaya in recent months and this is expected to continue to rise with the joint recognition of the kebaya as ...

As the kebaya gets Unesco’s recognition, what does its global cultural status mean for the future of the garment?

The kebaya represents cultural heritage from the Malay, Peranakan (Chinese, Baba Nyonya, Chetti, Siamese, Kristang) and other communities in Malaysia, as well as other countries in South-East Asia.

However, views on the kebaya are beginning to shift, through references in pop culture in the past few decades, such as the 2008 Mediacorp drama series The Little Nyonya, and practitioners ...