Teluk Belanga and Cekak Musang

Have you heard about teluk belanga and cekak musang

Like the female traditional Malay costumes, the little differences in the men’s Baju Melayu relate to the design of the neck area, and the way the upper dress or shirt is worn (whether outside the samping or inside).

Then of course the fabrics and pattern designs making up the costume and samping are subject to the individual’s taste.

The main difference between the two fashion styles is the cutting style at the neck or collar design, where the Teluk Belanga style has no collar and the neckline is stitched in the style known as "tulang belut" (eel's spines or bones). There is a loop at the end of the neckline to fit a "kancing" (a hook or button).

This Teluk Belanga collar design therefore exposes the neck of the wearer in contrast to the stiff or firm collar (like a Nehru or Mandarin collar but with buttons) of the Cekak Musang style.

On the other hand, as noted above, the Cekak Musang style has a raised or stiff collar of about 1 - 2cm, and is opened down to the chest, with holes for five buttons including two buttons for the collar.

The Teluk Belanga style originated, as its name implies, from the Johor Sultanate. Teluk Belanga, on the island of Singapore, was the administrative capital of the Johor Sultanate until 1866 when it moved to Johore Bahru