sharing my unique culture, heritage, and tradition
from the heart
of a Penang Peranakan Nyonya
without a doubt, the world of a Peranakan is absolutely intriguing, full of intricacy that a fusion of cultures, heritage, and tradition ends up uniquely defining us
it was only after my dearest amah moved on, i realised that i had taken for granted what i have, always thinking that she will infinitely be there to be able to answer all my inquisitiveness
somehow, now as i enquire and explore, it sometimes feel like a whole new world as i discover different things each time that felt like normal, daily affairs, but is actually a part of my culture, heritage, and tradition…
humbly, do follow me on my journey as i share my experiences… acquiring knowledge, new and old, with each step i take… each discovery makes me delighted that i managed to learn more about myself and about the Peranakans
Shu Ying
Penang Peranakan Nyonya, Sylph
through the years
2025
How to Kebaya
a collaboration between Sylph with National Heritage Board (NHB) Singapore and NUS Baba House Singapore
2024
Kebaya Appreciation Party
sharing about my amah’s Kebaya after the Kebaya was successfully inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (Kebaya : Knowledge, Skills, Traditions, and Practices)
2021 -
NUS Baba House Singapore
volunteer docent
2018
Penang Peranakan Batik motifs
an exhibition through the art of Kirigami
at Beauty and Diversity of Japanese Washi Paper at the Japan Creative Centre, Embassy of Japan in Singapore
at GMBB, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2015 -
Sylph’s events
pairing the Kebaya with a modern twist whenever possible to share the versatility, as well as encouraging the younger generation to wear Kebaya
2008 - 2014
Singapore Airlines
travelling the world in the Kebaya at 40,000 feet above sea level
inspired by the Peranakans
the Peranakans, rich in culture, heritage, and traditions, build their love for art and the finer things in life through their hands as well as in the understanding of being beautiful inside and out
Nyonyas take pleasure in cooking extraordinary dishes from scratch, sewing gorgeous Kebayas stitch by stitch, and making intricate kasut manik bead by bead, as well as sourcing for the best kerongsang (brooches), hairpins, and Batik, amongst the many things to match their Kebayas
growing up, I was enamoured with stories by my darling amah and found that each motif, each colour, each choice, has its own meaning, directly or indirectly, depending on how the Nyonyas choose to represent themselves and reflect or change their mood for the day
