The Kasut Manek and Sarong Kebaya were the iconic duo in the wardrobe of a young Nyonya in the past. Formerly worn on a daily basis, it is no secret that traditional Peranakan clothing has seen a huge decline in popularity amongst people in the modern day despite various efforts from different organisations. 

We spoke to a Peranakan student from Meridian Junior College, Chloe Chua, 18 about her opinion on why there are fewer people wearing traditional Peranakan clothing.

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“I think one of the reasons there’s so few people wearing clothing like the Sarong Kebaya and Kasut Manek is because society is quite judgemental towards people. Most people are afraid of being judged by strangers or even friends. Wearing these clothes on a regular day and people will judge you for ‘showing off’ or ‘trying too hard’. Not to mention the weird looks you will receive from strangers for wearing something that isn’t following the latest fashion trends or looks out of place in modern Singapore.”

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Another reason for the decline in popularity of the clothes could be attributed to cost and convenience. Carmen Lim, 19, a student from Temasek Polytechnic said, “I’m a student, I can’t afford a pair of slippers that cost over $500! I don’t have that kind of money! I’ve tried wearing a Sarong Kebaya for Racial Harmony Day back in secondary school and spent over an hour struggling to get it to look good on me! In the end, I had to resort to putting on the blouse with a pair of jeans instead. It’s just too much trouble for me to wear it daily.”

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Sadly as beautiful as traditional Peranakan clothing is, youths feel the factors that deter them from wearing the clothes outweighs the beauty of the clothing. 

But fashion is cyclical so not all hope is lost! Fashion must evolve to stay relevant, and hopefully one day the Sarong Kebaya and Kasut Manek will return to its former glory. But until then, they will have to endure life in a dying trade.