One of them is Sundanese traditional clothing which is quite famous in Indonesia. Just like other tribes in Indonesia, the Sundanese, who are mostly domiciled in West Java Province, also have a unique culture, including traditional clothing with various characteristics and types.

Characteristics of Sundanese traditional clothes

Discussing the traditional clothes of a tribe in Indonesia, including Sundanese traditional clothes, certainly cannot be separated from the role of history. One of the most easily recognizable characteristics is that traditional clothing is closely related to the social level (caste) of society. In the past, there were three castes, namely the aristocratic class, the middle class and the commoners.

The division of caste, one of which is distinguished from the type of clothing, for modern times like today, of course, is no longer relevant. However, to be able to find out more about what West Java (Sundanese) traditional clothing is, it is also a good idea to know what the names of Sundanese traditional clothes are consisting of various types, as will be discussed in more detail below. :

1. Women’s clothing

Sundanese women, who belong to the common people, generally only wear long batik cloth called sarong kebat or sinjang buntel as their subordinates. As for the boss, he wears a camis and kebaya, then he is given a belt with accessories called beubeur and for footwear he uses keteplek sandals.

2. Boys’ clothes

Sundanese men who are included in the ordinary community, generally wear pangsi, namely komprang pants with a salontreng shirt top equipped with a sarong as a sling. In addition, they also wear tarumpah sandals and a headband called Barambang Semplak.

Middle Class Sundanese Traditional Clothing

1. Women’s Clothing

Traditional Sundanese women’s clothing for the middle class, generally is a kebaya that looks neater with various patterns and colors. The kebaya is then combined with a kebat cloth that functions as a subordinate and a belt and scarf as a complement. As for footwear, they are known as Kelom Geulis sandals and don’t miss accessories in the form of jewelry.

2. Men’s Clothing

Traditional Sundanese men’s clothing for the middle class is generally in the form of surgical clothes which are a kind of white coat. The operating gown is combined with a kebat cloth as a subordinate as well as a belt and a fish head called a bengker. As for accessories, they use gold-colored watches with chains to attach to their shirt pockets.

Sundanese Traditional Clothes for Nobles

1. Women’s Clothing

The Sundanese aristocrats generally wore black velvet kebaya and decorated with beads. As for his subordinates wearing striped kebat cloth. In accordance with his boss, for footwear also use black velvet sandals.

2. Men’s Clothing

The Sundanese aristocrats generally wore “Menak” clothes, which is the name for a suit made of black velvet decorated with gold threads at the ends of the sleeves. It became the hallmark of the upper class people of his time.

As for the subordinates, they wear trousers with a picture or motif that matches the suit and are also equipped with a gold belt and headgear called a bendo which is more elegant and adds to the selling value of the clothes.

Sundanese Traditional Clothing for Formal Occasions

Currently, the classification of social levels (caste) in society is considered irrelevant. Therefore, now people are more familiar with the beskap as a modern Sundanese traditional dress that can be worn by all people of West Java, for various official events.

As for his subordinates, adult Sundanese men prefer to mix and match with jarik, while jajaka (youth) prefer to wear long pants. It made the men of the past look charismatic.

The cut of the front of the beskap is deliberately designed not symmetrically, with the aim of making it easier to install the keris as an accessory. In addition, other complementary accessories in the form of ribbons are headgear in the form of hats and also gold-colored watch accessories whose chains can be hung in a shirt pocket.

While the Sundanese traditional clothes used at women’s official events usually consist of a kebaya as a top combined with a cloth base and footwear in the form of sandals that are adjusted to the color of the kebaya. As for the complement, they also wear a belt called a beubeur and a scarf.