Free kebaya cat keychains designed by NYP students available at vending machines from March 2025
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The vending machines will dispense blind boxes containing the keychains after users play a game on the machines.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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SINGAPORE - From March to May 2025, members of the public will be able to redeem free kebaya-themed keychains at two vending machines that will make their way around the island.
The vending machines will dispense blind boxes containing these keychains depicting cats dressed in kebayas – a traditional woman’s garment popular in South-east Asia – after users play and complete a game on the machine.
The keychains were designed by four Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) final-year visual communication students – Ms Kirsten Discaya, 19, Ms Seng Le Ting, 20, Ms Nicole Lee, 20, and Ms Giselle Chionh, 19 – as part of a project with the National Heritage Board (NHB) to raise awareness about the kebaya and its cultural significance.
This initiative by NHB and NYP follows a successful bid by Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to get the kebaya inscribed
This was announced on Dec 4 at the meeting of a 24-member Unesco intergovernmental committee held in Asuncion, Paraguay.
The NYP students had based their designs on the works of local kebaya makers such as Mr Raymond Wong, who manages Rumah Kim Choo; Ms Oniatta Effendi, who runs Baju by Oniatta; and Madam Ratianah Tahir, who owns Kebaya by Ratianah.
There are four designs showing different cats wearing a mix of vintage and modern kebayas.
Each blind box also comes with a card containing information about the kebaya.
The NHB said more information on where the vending machines will be located will be posted on its social media channels later.
The students said they were proud to have been able to play a part in helping to educate people about the kebaya. “It is very nice to know we are bringing more light to this part of Singapore’s heritage,” said Ms Chionh.
