Do you know which is the most versatile clothing type that has been famous across the world? Well-known by different names, majorly Kikoys, Chitenge, Dhoti, Lap Lap, Kanga, Malones, Patoongs…… Phew… wait, there is more on the list. Fouta, Izzar, Togas, and finally, the one you will get to know on your Myanmar tour, longyi has been around for ages. It replicates the profoundness of the respective country’s culture.
However, since you are here to have information for your next tour into the most charming country, Myanmar, we will discuss the traditional attire of that particular country only. The other Myanmar’s traditional dresses like Kimono or Ao dai seem to be designed only for special occasions whereas, longyi, on the other hand, seems to have a different strong connection.
Myriads of fashion trends have emerged, but the influence of western trends over this particular dress type looks negligible. The longyi presence looks ubiquitous, and both men and women wear it in their daily life. It was introduced after the British colonial and was known as Paso for men and Htamein for women.
Longyi is a saron-like tube-of-cloth of floor-length, and it is wrapped around the waist. Men’s longyi used to be as long as 30 feet while that of women, 4.5 ft. The fabric used to make the longyi represented the affluence of the family in the old times. Having said that, the trend has changed, silk became cheaper, and longyi became an affordable option for anyone in the country.
However, there are a lot of fabric and color options available for choosing the longyi of choice. Longyi, due to its ultimate comfort and convenience, has become an integral part of Myanmar’s national dress.
With the evolving fashion trends, variations came into Longyi style and type. Let’s understand in detail these variations in the traditional clothing style of Myanmar.
Material types:
Longyi is usually made from cotton for everyday use and from silk & satin for special occasions.
Design and patterns:
Kachin: Kachin is a specially handwoven design in diamond shapes.
Bama: The zig-zag pattern on longyi that you will find as you travel to different areas covered in your Laos tour package is known as Bama.
People living in the Inle region i.e., Rakhine State and Mon State love wearing artistic floral designs in longyi.
However, people living in Yaw, Ayerwady prefer to wear checked designs with dots and squares. Men love the square design and wear it formally.
Another design that will win your heart is the “Acheik” design of the Amrapur region. It is also known as a “wave” pattern that has bands of various color combinations, and the idea was inspired by the waves and ripples of the Ayeyarwady River. The design looks so elegant over the high-quality fabric that it is also preferred by the bride or groom to wear on their special day. Yes, not to forget, these designs are handwoven, which adds on to artistic creation.
If you are wondering how to wear these beautiful longyis, keep scrolling down to the next section.
This traditional unisex dress can be worn upside down or inside out. Men usually tie the knot wrapping the longyi around the waist to keep it in place. Men can tie a tennis ball-sized knot or wear it like a short.
Women, on the other hand, have a wide choice in terms of colors and patterns. The floral design is one of their favorites, and unlike men, they tie the longyi around the waist with a belt. Women do not have options for wearing longyi (they can only wear it with a belt), however, to add on to the comfort level, women often pull longyi off and tuck it one side on the waist.
Versatile use of longyi:
Apart from wearing the longyis daily, this traditional outfit is worn during the most agile activities, sports, and also while playing games. The only thing that people wearing the longyi have to do is pull up the front of longyi and tuck it in the waist. You would be surprised to know that the comfort level of this attire is so much that people wear it even during farming or performing other labor activities. An added surprise element: Even the soldiers of the country used to wear it.
You may think, how and why this piece of cloth got so much popularity? Well, the nested garment can be washed and ironed easily. You can fold it, hang it, or just roll it, it will not occupy much of the space in the wardrobe.
How about the thought that the changing of longyi between the old one and the new one would not require a closed space? Surprising right? But yes, you can do it effortlessly.
Also, just pull it up, go for a walk in the river, or bathing in public (rural areas) without having any fear of getting wet.
If you think that the tradition may change with modernization, then read what people have to say about this.
“Zaw Min Hthut, 41, a man wearing Paso every day at the hostel he owns and operates in the downtown area of Yangon, says he feels “comfortable, simple, gentle, and attractive” when he puts on longyi. “
“A receptionist at the hostel, Nyein Nyein Lae, although she is working on the night shift, still wears a longyi with a matching shirt. It is Myanmar with traditional clothes. We are Myanmar citizens so we wear it,” she said. Nyein Nyein Lee said she has become so used to wearing longyi all her life that she felt uncomfortable wearing pants and dresses.”
“Yee Mon Oo, 21, a student of the University of Yangon told The Myanmar Times that in the university the uniforms are colorful, female students have to wear longyi, while male students can wear either Paso or trousers.”
Not to forget, longyi makes them feel connected to the nation and its culture. Just a word to end the sentiments, “In Myanmar, you will find Longyi EVERYWHERE.”
Want to buy one for yourself?
If you are traveling to the places covered in your Myanmar tour packages, you should definitely visit the Scott market and choose a tailor-fit longyi for yourself. The price varies on the basis of the design, pattern, and material you choose. Don’t forget to carry a safety pin with you (note for foreign travelers) as it can save you from an embarrassing situation (which might come as first-time longyi wearers).
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