Saturday, August 3, 2019

Indonesia 2019 - ASEAN, National Costumes



Technical Details:
Date of Issue: 08 August 2019
Size Stamp: 41.60 mm x 25.31 mm
Composition: 20 pieces (20 sets)
Price per Sheet: IDR 60,000.-
Colours: 4 Separation + 1 Invisible Ink
Paper: Postage Stamps Paper
Gum: PVA
Printing Process: Offset
Printing Quantity: 1,400,000 sets
Designer: KoezDiana
Printer: Perum PERURI


National Costumes

The costumes or uniforms commonly worn at official and national events consist of Complete Civil Uniform (PSL - Pakaian Sipil Lengkap).  Service Dress Uniform, and National Uniform.  These national costumes of uniforms are traditional attire and dress from various regions in Indonesia that are used at official and national events under the regulations determined by the committee of an institution or the secretariat of a national institution.  The Unitary State of The Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) is a multi-diverse country having 34 provinces with distinctive ethnic groups and culture.  Each province has its own representation of traditional attire and dress with its own unique and distinguished designs. Ethnic diversity in Indonesia signifies a diversity of National Costume choices of the people of Indonesia.

Even though, there are various traditional attire and dress coming from various provinces in Indonesia, the national costume that represents NKRI is derived from Indonesian culture and traditional textile traditions.  The most popular national costume of Indonesia is Batik and Kebaya within Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese culture.  Since Java has been the political and population center of Indonesia, folk costumes from the island has become elevated into national status and has been widely used by the people of Indonesia.  The use of National Costumes in some regions are also immensely influenced by the unique local ethnic designs, for example, batik cloth with various motifs, materials and Kebaya, baju kurung, baju bodo, and traditional unique fabrics, such as batik, songket or tenun.

One of the national headdress, especially for men is a cap named Kopiah or also called Songkok or Peci.  In any part of the world, when someone wears a kopiah, he will immediately by identified as Indonesian people.  In addition to being a national identity, kopiah also indicates a characteristics of one's religious culture.  This ancestral cultural heritage continues to be used as an identity as well as aesthetics in dress.  In addition to being a complement to the costume, or protecting the head from the sun, Peci or Kopiah is also worn to show the identity of a Muslim, and signify a religious lifestyle.

The dress code is generally determined by the event organizers with the aim of harmonizing with the concept of event held.  In addition to respecting the host who has invited, the dress code is also considered important to avoid costume errors in attending the event.  If the required dress code is national costume, in addition to aesthetics, there are some standards that should be followed and adjusted to the type of event to be attended.

There are several dresscodes to be followed when wearing national costume in attending the event.  For women, the costumes that should be worn are kebaya with long regional cloth covering the ankles (can be batik, songket, or tenun).  For men, they should wear long-sleeved shirts with matching dark pants.  Formal kebaya should be long sleeves without details, such as wrinkles or cuffs, and shoulder pads.  If you choose a kebaya kutu buku to be worn, you should match it with the batik cloth that has been decorated.  The hair styling should be an Indonesian bun style, or gelung tekut bun.  Shawl accecories can be draped over the shoulders, both for kebaya and baju kurung.  Slippers or sandals with open heels, or dark-colored leather shoes for men can be worn as the footwear.

National costume taken as an Indonesia stamp design (also used for a special First Day Cover stamp) uses batik cloth with the main motif of Garuda or Gurda, a bird that is considered a sacred animal.  In the viewpoint of the Javanese people, Garuda bird has a very important position.  The form a Gurda motifs consists of two wings (Lar) and a body and tail in the middle.  Gurda batik motifs are also inseparable from stories and beliefs in the past.  Garuda is the ride of Vishnu Batara known as the Sun God.  It is also considered as a symbol of the sun by the Javanese people.  Thus Garuda is seen as the main source of life and a symbol of manhood, which illuminates the life of mankind.  Therefore, this motivates the people of Yogyakarta and Java to embody this sacred bird into the batik motif.

In Its application, Garuda's motives are usually combined with other batik motifs, such as Semen motifs derived from the words "semi", or "grow".  Semen motifs are non-geometric patterns inspired by the nature.  However, Garuda also often blends with geometric and repetitive pattern motifs.  Although there are also other birds like Peafowl, Ayam Babon, and Phoenix.  Garuda has got a special place as the Indonesian national symbol, and the Javanese philosophy of life in the past.  The use of Garuda's motifs is also considered as a very interesting innovation in the world of batik.  In addition to Garuda's deep philosophy, the beauty of Garuda has its own perspective for most batik lovers.

Garuda is often combined with the Ceplok motif known as batik Ceplokan.  The very ancient from of the ceplok pattern is Kawung.  The pattern of Ceplok motifs is inspired by the shape of the Kawung fruit (kaong or areng), which is split in four.  The core and four parts of the symbolize the four main directions of the wind.  Basically, ceplok is a decoration category based on repetition of geometric shapes, such as rectangles, oval, stars, and other variants.

Batik with Sidoluhur motifs has a noble meaning.  Every Javanese thinks that the main purpose of life is to achieve nobility both matrial and non-material.  This batik with Sidoluhur motif has also meaning that people do not only live fot themselves, but they also have to live for family, environment, society, and God.  In addition, Garuda also often looks harmonious with the Sidomukti motif, which represents the level of the life that is always coveted by many Javanese people.  The word of 'mukti' means prosperous life in the world and in the hereafter.

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