Costume of a Woman from Java

This photo is from an exhibit at Madurodam, The Hague, in The Netherlands. Here we see a woman vendor in the street on the island of Java, Indonesia, who is selling what she has made. In this case it is sirih, with the main ingredient being betel leaves, which people like to chew.



Indonesia declared its independence from the Dutch in 1945. The dress and scene portrayed are typical of the time before 1986.

Note the earthy tones of the woman's clothing - rich burgundy and oranges offset the unbleached color material in a plaid-like pattern of the wrapped skirt and plain bodice.

If you need help with sewing techniques for dolls and costumes I recommend consulting my book.

Article and photo credit Susan Kramer