The Sabahan

The largest indigenous ethnic groups of Sabah’s population are the Kadazan Dusun, the Bajau and the Murut.

Kadazan Dusun

The largest ethnic group of Sabah, the Kadazan Dusuns form about 30% of the state’s population. Actually consisting of two tribes; the Kadazan and the Dusun, they were grouped together as they both share the same language and culture. However, the Kadazan are mainly inhabitants of flat valley deltas, which are conducive to paddy field farming, while the Dusun traditionally lived in the hilly and mountainous regions of interior Sabah.

The male Kadazan is wearing a ceremonial costume usually worn during the Sumazau dance. It comprises of a jacket and trousers with gold trimmings and a woven destar cloth headgear known as siga. The female is wearing a ceremonial Kadazan Papar costume made of embroidered colour and gold thread. It is worn with a headgear made of bamboo strips known as siung and silver coin belt. These clothes are usually made from black velvet or silk.

Source – http://oimalaysianculture.blogspot.com/2012/09/culture-of-malaysia-clothes.html

Bajau

The second largest ethnic group in Sabah, the Bajaus or sometimes referred to as the”Sea Gypsies” make up about 15% of the state’s population.

The Bajau women of Kota Belud make embroidered panels sewn into their long black wrap-skirt. The Bajau and Iranun of Kota Belud weave the traditional headgear called kain dastar which is also worn by almost every indigenous group in Sabah.

The women wore badu sipak, badu sampit, kain mogah, olos berangkit, selendang and mandapun, sarempak, galang, subang, keku ingkot pangkat as accessories.

While the men wore badu, suar, tanjak, ingkot pangkat, and selendang.

Source – http://beautifulnnice.blogspot.com/2011/05/traditional-costume-of-bajau.html

Murut

The third largest ethnic group in Sabah the Muruts make up about 3% of the state’s population.

Traditional dress for men was a jacket made of tree bark (Artocarpus tamaran), a red loincloth, and a headdress decorated with Argus pheasant feathers.

Women wore a black sleeveless blouse and sarong. Like most of the other indigenous groups in Sabah, the Murut decorated their clothing with distinctive beadwork and also made belts out of old silver coins. Another belt made of reddish-brown glass beads plus yellow and blue beads was hung loosely around the waist.