
Pet hats originated in Northern Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Initially, it was worn by men from the working class. This hat began to appear in 1811 in the Russian and Prussian armies, in the last years of the Napoleonic Wars. In 1815 this hat became common for German and Austrian men, and was later popular throughout Northern Europe.
In 1846, the United States Army adopted the pet hat during the Mexican-American War. In 1879, the pet hat was adopted by the British Royal Navy. The British Army adopted the pet hat in 1902.
During the 20th century, pet hats became commonly used among the army, navy, air force, and police around the world.
The way Europeans dressed greatly influenced the way the king and the Javanese royal family dressed. It was started by Amangkurat ll who liked to wear the uniform of the Dutch Navy so it was nicknamed as Sunan Amral. “Amral” is the Javanese spelling for admiral (admiral).
The next influence was due to the military cooperation between the colonial army and the palace army. Automatically kings and royal families also held military positions and European military ranks because they were affiliated.
When the natives (nobles/priayi) began to be involved in the bureaucracy of the Dutch East Indies government, the way Europeans dressed also strongly influenced the way the bumiputera dressed.
The ‘Inlandsch Bestuur’ (government executors) ranging from regents, patihs, wedana, assistant wedana, village heads, to civil servants, all had to follow European dress codes.
In certain associations and occasions, the nobles/priayi also adjust the way of dressing in a European style, for example the Besiyaran clothes worn when traveling or attending certain events.
European-style clothing consists of head to toe. Starting from hats, suits, pants, to shoes. The most problematic is in the hat as a complement to clothing and a European-style uniform. For example, in Ambtenaar uniforms and Besiyaran clothing.
In many traditions and cultures, hats are not just a headscarf, fashion, and uniform of professions. There is a philosophy and symbolic meaning behind the hat (head covering). Likewise with Javanese traditions and culture.
The Javanese people have long used udheng and blangkon with all their philosophies. Mondolan, wiron, knots, colors, and motifs are not formed unintentionally. There is also a cosmic meaning in it that reflects the understanding of the Vast Universe (macrocosm) and the Small Universe (microcosm). A harmonious relationship between man and the Creator.
In addition, for the palace paugeran, the blangkon also functions as a symbol of a person’s position.
From the various things above, this is an excuse for the Javanese people not to easily remove udheng and blangkon, and replace them with new ones.
As a solution for the Javanese, they still wear udheng/blangkon, after that they only wear hats. For those who cover their heads and touch their scalp, it is still udung/blangkon, not a hat.
The Dutch colonials could control their physique, but honor and thought could not be mastered.
The Malang City Government (Pemkot) on April 1, 2026 has launched Malangan clothing in conjunction with the commemoration of the 112th Anniversary of Malang City.
This typical Malang City fashion is designed with the concept of combining local and colonial culture. This outfit was inspired by the clothes of past officials, namely Raden Adipati Aryo Suryo Adiningrat or Raden Saleh who served as the Regent of Malang in 1898-1934.
This outfit consists of a black suit top with a weper collar, combined with a white shirt with a high collar and a long tie. The bottom uses a thigh-length Tugu Pucuk Kopi motif batik cloth or knot, equipped with black trousers. Other accessories include a sash, a brew screwdriver, and an Ambtenaar hat head covering wrapped in udheng cloth with a similar pattern.
Well, here’s the problem. Why is udheng cloth only used as a hat wrap accessory? Why not as the main head covering. Then the hat then.
Is it so easy for us to remove udheng/blangkon as a characteristic of the Javanese? Is it so easy for us to replace the original philosophy of the east with the west. We are now independent, not colonies and colonies anymore. Be free of your mind.
#blangkon
#udheng
#Javanese
#amangkuratII
#ikafarihahhentihu








