Sundanese Traditional Clothing

The Sundanese are one of the tribes that dominate the cultural diversity in West Java, including traditional clothes.

Geographically, the Sunda region is located in the west of Java Island, which borders the provinces of Banten and DKI Jakarta.

List of Sundanese Traditional Clothing

Sundanese traditional clothing cannot be separated from the historical element. The reason is that these traditional clothes are divided into 3 types according to the social level of the community.

The 3 types of traditional clothing according to the social level are as follows:

• Traditional clothing for royalty.
• Traditional clothing for the middle class.
• Traditional clothing for ordinary people.

The 3 types of traditional clothing have been known by the community since ancient times and are still sustainable.

However, for now the grouping of traditional clothing based on the social level in the community is no longer relevant.

The reason is that now we are more familiar with the types and names of traditional clothes based on the function and purpose of wearing them.

Here are some Sundanese traditional clothes that you must know:

1. Pangsi

Pangsi is a clothing suit in the form of a plain shirt and loose pants.

These baggy pants have a length that does not exceed the ankles and are usually black and equipped with leather or tie cloth.

This traditional dress is very simple and looks worn and shabby. Because these clothes are worn by men from ordinary people.

Those who wear these pangsi clothes usually work as farmers or laborers.

However, nowadays, pangsi are also used by the upper class with a better shape and better choice of fabric.

The top of this pangsi is in the form of a plain shirt called a salontreng shirt.

This salontreng shirt is a dress with a simple stitching model and is identical to black.

Usually combined with a poleng sarong that is attached across the body.

In its use, the pans are also equipped with a head covering called ikat logen and footwear in the form of tarumpah (wooden oak).

2. Sundanese Kebaya

Sundanese kebaya usually has bright colors, such as white, maroon, and light purple.

This Sundanese kebaya is almost the same as the kebaya from Central Java and East Java. The difference is in the shape of the neck.

The bottom is a jarik cloth called a sarong kebat or sinjang bundle.

The kebat or sinjang bundle sarong is decorated with various Sundanese batik motifs.

And don't forget to wear accessories such as hairpins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, belts (beubeur), camis, keteplek flip-flops, and other accessories.

This Sundanese kebaya is a traditional dress worn by ordinary people to the middle class.

Even though they both use kebaya, if the patterns and materials are different, it will still be a sign of someone's social status in Sunda.

3. Surgery

Bedahan is a traditional dress worn by the middle class in Sunda.

The middle class are not of noble descent, but who work as traders or merchants.

The appearance and the items used are also different from the clothes of ordinary people.

Usually this middle class clothing is accompanied by beads in its use.

For women, use a kebaya which is usually brightly colored as a top. As for his subordinates wearing batik kebat cloth which has a distinctive style from Sunda.

And for the accessories, use colored scarves, a belt called beubeur, footwear in the form of sandals that are called kelom geulis, and jewelry in the form of necklaces, bracelets, earrings or earrings, and rings made of silver or gold.

Meanwhile, men wear white surgical gowns or piety suits as their tops.

And for his subordinates also use batik kebat cloth with various patterns.

Don't forget to also come with accessories such as tarumpah sandals (wooden oak), tie a waist called a beubeur, a headband, and a gold chain watch that hangs in the pocket her clothes.

4. Menak

Menak is a traditional Sundanese clothing in the form of a velvet suit embroidered with gold thread.

Menak is a traditional dress for the nobility. It has been proven from its appearance which seems very luxurious and shows a little glamor.

This menak is in the form of a cap jacket combined with black trousers accompanied by a finger loop from the waist to above the knee.

Menak is also equipped with various accessories that support his appearance to be more luxurious and glamorous.

The supporting accessories are headgear, gold belt or commonly referred to as Benten, and black flip-flops.

And the female partner also uses a kebaya with a velvet dress which is embroidered with additional beads and is black.

For his subordinates, use a finger with the same pattern as that used by the man or with a striped pattern as a noble.

Do not forget to also be equipped with a variety of accessories to support the pen, such as hair buns, hair pins, brooches, chain pins, rings, and jewelry made of diamonds or gold.

5. Beskap

Beskap is a traditional dress for men from Sunda which is only used for official events.

Sundanese traditional clothes for formal events are almost the same as traditional clothes for the nobility.

This Beskap is in the form of a shirt that is designed to be used on official and important events only.

Beskap has a very diverse color, but is usually synonymous with dark colors and is always plain.

The texture of this beskap is thick accompanied by a collar that has no folds.

This traditional dress has a different cut size on the front which is not symmetrical.

The purpose of the asymmetry is to anticipate the use of keris accessories which may be quite heavy.

The button pattern of this beskap is quite unique, because the shape of the buttons is sideways.

Usually beskap is combined with jarik which has a typical Sundanese pattern used to cover the feet.

Don't forget to also wear a side cloth at the waist, a bow as a headgear, and sandals, as well as a gold chain clock.

6. Sundanese Traditional Clothes For Wedding

Sundanese traditional clothing for this wedding is divided into 3 types, namely the bride's dress, the singer's wedding dress, and the Sukapura wedding dress.

All three have differences that can be seen from the details of the clothes and make-up used.

And what can be seen at a glance is the shape of the bun, the decorative details on the clothes, and the attached accessories.

Usually women use a special bridal kebaya which usually has an attractive and modern characteristic.

Modern here means modifying the Sundanese kebaya without losing the impression and traditional values ​​in it.

The material of this kebaya is brocade with a bright and muted color.

And for his subordinates using Lereng Eneng Prada batik kebat cloth. The clothes are inspired by princess clothes in the ancient Sunda Kingdom.

In its use, this bridal kebaya must be accompanied by accessories in the form of gems, bracelets, rings, and 2 necklaces (short and long) which are used simultaneously.

And the average head uses a type of jewelry crown called Siger.

This siger has a meaning, namely as a symbol of honor and wisdom.

As for the groom, he wears the Open Prangwedana suit whose color is usually adjusted to the color of the bride's kebaya.

Likewise with the batik cloth used, in order to be in harmony it must be the same color as the bride.

The use of clothes for men is accompanied by a head covering or a bento with jeweled decorations and Boro Sarangka, which is a kind of bag or place to store a keris.

7. Grandfather

As the name suggests, Mojang jajaka is a traditional dress worn by women and men.

Clothing for women in the form of kebaya with plain colors combined with kebat cloth for subordinates.

In its use, it is accompanied by a scarf or karembong and a belt called beubeur.

Beubeur serves to tighten the use of the fabric so it doesn't fall.

And for the footwear, use sandals that have the same color as the kebaya.

To support the appearance, don't forget to also wear accessories such as hair buns, rings, necklaces, brooches, bracelets, chain pins, and other jewelry that feels suitable and good.

As for men, it is in the form of a beskap or a closed coat as a top and trousers as a subordinate. Usually black or can be other colors.

Its use is accompanied by a headgear or bendo and slippers as footwear.

Don't forget to add accessories in the form of a clock that is paired by clamping it in the upper left coat pocket to support its appearance.

The Uniqueness of Sundanese Traditional Clothing

Sundanese traditional clothing has several unique features, including the following:

1. Types of Clothing Based on Social Status

Social status that can be distinguished only by the use of traditional clothing is one of the uniqueness of this Sundanese.

In fact, this applies to all groups ranging from children, youth, adults, parents, to grandmothers.

2. Pants to Calf

The length of the traditional Sundanese men's pants is quite unique, the article is that the length of the pants is only up to the calves and is komprang in shape. But there are also long pants.

3. Women's Traditional Clothing Impressed Simple

Traditional clothes for Sundanese women seem simple. Because they only use batik cloth for subordinates.

4. There are Modern Traditional Clothing

Over time, many Sundanese traditional clothes have been polished with a modern touch.

That is, the classic impression of a traditional dress has begun to fade, it's just that the essence is still known as traditional clothing.

However, this modern traditional clothing still emphasizes the existing cultural values.

5. Kris

Keris is a supporting accessory that is usually used by men when carrying out their weddings as a complement to traditional Sundanese clothing.

6. Bendo

Bendo is a headgear that is often used by men in wearing traditional Sundanese clothing.

7. Beubeur

Beubeur is a belt that is often used by women in wearing traditional Sundanese clothing.

Beubeur is made of kebat cloth that is used to support the appearance of the woman.

8. Crown

The crown or siger is a supporting accessory that is usually used by women when carrying out their weddings as a complement to traditional Sundanese clothing.

9. Kelom Geulis

Kelom geulis are sandals used by women as footwear from traditional Sundanese clothing.

Conclusion

Sundanese traditional clothes can show social status for the wearer. Thus the type of clothing used certainly has various aesthetic values.

Sundanese traditional clothes also have various kinds of uniqueness which of course are not owned by traditional clothes from other provinces.