Chinese cheongsam fashion dominates Indonesian Eid 2026 clothing trends
Jakarta — Azra, a clothing store attendant at Jakarta’s Tanah Abang Market, reports selling hundreds of cheongsam-style Eid garments for women each week, reflecting the rising popularity of the traditional Chinese outfit amongst young Indonesian consumers in recent months.
The trend has coincided with this year’s Chinese New Year and Eid celebrations, which occurred close together.
Shopping for new clothing ahead of Eid has long been a tradition amongst Indonesian society, with fashionable styles typically changing each year. This year, cheongsam-style garments, distinguished by characteristic toggles and side slits, have become a hot topic on social media and emerged as one of the primary attractions at Jakarta’s Tanah Abang Market.
Azra represents just one of numerous stalls at Southeast Asia’s largest wholesale garment market displaying cheongsam models. At Tanah Abang Market Block B, particularly in the women’s clothing section, it is easy to find outlets displaying cheongsam-style clothing in their main windows, priced between 300,000 and 450,000 rupiah for a complete top and skirt set.
“Of all the models we sell, cheongsam is the most sought-after model in recent weeks. On average, we sell 30 garments daily and potentially more, especially on weekends,” Azra told Xinhua.
She noted that most buyers are teenagers to adults who are typically active social media users. Many customers, according to Azra, arrive directly asking for “viral Eid cheongsam clothing” or show the garment model through photo or video references from social media.
Social media has been the primary driver of this traditional Chinese outfit’s popularity in Indonesia over recent months. The phenomenon began with a cheongsam jacket trend introduced by a prominent sportswear brand, now being adopted for Eid clothing models.
On TikTok, hashtags for “cheongsam tunic” have been uploaded hundreds of times. Tunic refers to a type of loose-fitting female top reaching the thigh or knee. One video from the clothing store account @levioraofficial featuring a cheongsam tunic model has been viewed over four million times with nearly 100,000 likes.
Fransiska, a private sector employee in Jakarta, purchased two cheongsam-style garments through an e-commerce platform to wear during the Eid celebrations falling on this weekend.
“What is attractive about this model is its many unique buttons. Most importantly, a standing collar like this suits hijab wearers like myself,” she said.
According to her, several Eid-style cheongsam garments are quite flexible as they are not only suitable for wearing on the holiday but also appropriate for everyday work outfits. After purchasing her first cheongsam garment, Mis became interested in collecting more traditional Chinese outfits as work clothing.
Although inspired by Chinese cheongsam, most of these Eid clothing models have undergone several adjustments. In terms of colour, these Eid garments are dominated by soft solid (pastel) colours, differing from traditional Chinese cheongsam which typically features bright colours.
Additionally, whilst traditional cheongsam usually consists of a dress, these Eid garments are designed as tunics paired with skirts or trousers to accommodate the needs of hijab-wearing women.
However, long before the cheongsam trend emerged during this year’s Eid, Indonesian men’s Muslim clothing known as “baju koko” is believed to have earlier experienced strong influence from traditional Chinese garments, evident from its distinctive standing collar and button design at the front.