The perahan tunban, made to measure
A look at how a traditional outfit is cut, sewn and embroidered by hand, one order at a time.
The perahan tunban is a long shirt worn over loose, gathered trousers. It's comfortable in the heat, practical for work, and dressed up for weddings and holidays with embroidery at the collar and cuffs.
Cut to order
At Nazila's workshop nothing is cut until the order arrives. Customers send their measurements, choose the cloth and the colour, and the tailors cut each panel by hand.
The embroidery
The yoke, the panel across the chest, is where each piece becomes its own. It is stitched by hand in cotton or metallic thread, in geometric patterns that take two or three days for a single shirt.
Choosing yours
Cotton is cool and soft and suits everyday wear. Heavier cloth holds the embroidery better for special occasions. If you're between sizes, the tailors suggest sending your chest and length measurements so they can cut to fit.
