Museum Nasional Indonesia hosts Waves of Weave textile exhibition

The Waves of Weave exhibition has opened at the Museum Nasional Indonesia, showcasing 42 collections of kebaya, traditional textiles, and accessories from 10 Southeast Asian nations. The exhibition, which runs until January 8, 2027, aims to explore the cultural connections and shared histories within the region.

Represented countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam. The display highlights the kebaya as a significant cultural thread connecting various Southeast Asian societies.

The event is a collaborative effort involving Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW), the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism, the Indonesian Heritage Agency (IHA), the National Museum, Adhvan Media, and ASA. Indira Estiyanti Nurjadin, head of the Indonesian Heritage Agency, noted that these textiles serve as sources of knowledge that record various aspects of societal life and cultural practices passed down through generations.