RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Founder of the Perempuan Berkebaya Indonesia (PBI), a cultural community in Indonesia dedicated to preserving, promoting, and normalizing the kebaya as everyday attire for Indonesian women, Rahmi Hidayati, has called on the public to appreciate the creativity of the younger generation who style the traditional kebaya with modern outfits. She noted that this approach is part of an effort to reintroduce the kebaya as an everyday wear.

Speaking in an interview with RRI Voice Of Indonesia (VOI) on Thursday, July 23, 2026, ahead of National Kebaya Day, Rahmi emphasized that young people who are starting to wear the kebaya deserve support rather than criticism. She believes that positive appreciation will encourage more of the younger generation to love and wear the attire.

“Today, many young people are beginning to wear the kebaya when gathering with friends, attending certain events, or going to campus. They often pair it with jeans or short skirts. Rather than criticizing them, we should appreciate their willingness to wear the kebaya,” Rahmi said, adding that excessive criticism could discourage young people from wearing the kebaya altogether.

Rahmi added that once an interest in wearing the kebaya is sparked, the public can then educate the youth on how to pair it with traditional Indonesian textiles, such as batik, tenun (woven fabric), and lurik. This ensures that the modernization of the kebaya goes hand-in-hand with the preservation of its cultural values.

“So we have to [say], okay, you can use that kind of style, you use it with jeans or whatever, and we try to educate them about kebaya. How to use kebaya with traditional tenun, batik, lurik, and other textiles,” she said.

Furthermore, Rahmi stressed that understanding the history of the kebaya is a crucial aspect that should not be overlooked, especially by young people. To address this, her community continues to develop various educational initiatives, including Kebaya Goes to School, Kebaya Goes to Campus, Kebaya Goes to Office, and Kebaya Goes to the World.

“Through these programs, knowledge about the kebaya reaches young people and Indonesian women wherever they may be,” said the Chairwoman of PBI.

In celebration of National Kebaya Day, observed annually on July 24, PBI is hosting a variety of events in Bali, ranging from a kebaya fun walk and art performances to a kebaya coloring contest for children, social media promotion workshops, and a kebaya exhibition and bazaar. Similar events are also being held by PBI chapters across 22 regions in collaboration with various women's organizations.

Rahmi expressed her hope that more women, both in Indonesia and internationally, will wear the kebaya with pride. For her, the most important thing is not strictly adhering to traditional rules from the outset, but fostering a love for the kebaya first before deepening one's understanding of its cultural value.

“Just wear the kebaya because you love it. The kebaya is a very beautiful dress. You can wear it wherever you go,” Rahmi concluded.