Sarong
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Thai Village Chief.png.png
A sarong is a large sheet of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn as a skirt by men and women throughout much of south and southeast Asia excluding Vietnam, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric is often brightly coloured or printed with intricate patterns, often depicting animals or plants, checkered or geometric patterns, or resembling the results of tie dying. Sarongs are also used as wall hangings and other forms of clothing, such as shawls, baby carriers, complete dresses or upper body clothing.
The dyeing technique of batik is associated with sarong production.
Contents |
Regional Variations
Sarongs are widespread in the South Indian state of Kerala, where they are called mundu. Unlike the brightly coloured Southeast Asian sarongs, the Keralan variety is more often plain white and is worn for ceremonial or religious purposes. Mundu are generally worn only by men in this region. There are also dresses based on mundu which can be worn by women, however they more commonly wear sari.
In North America, the fabric of the sarong is generally quite light, often rayon, and may feature decorative fringing on two sides. They may also have ties, which are long thin strips of fabric used to assist the wearer in holding the sarong to his body so it does not fall off while moving around. In North America, sarongs are often used by women as a cover-up over swimwear.
Securing as a Garment
Numerous tying methods exist to hold a sarong to the wearer's body. In some cases, these techniques customarily differ according to the gender of wearer. If a sarong has ties, they may be used to hold it in place. If no ties exist, a pin may be used, the fabric may be tightly tucked under itself in layers, the corners of the main sheet may be around the body and knotted, or a belt may be used to hold the sarong in place.
Similar Garments
In Bangladesh, men typically wear skirts called lungi. They are normally made of cotton, but are also found in silk and other fabrics. They are most often sewn into a large cylindrical shape, so there is no slit when the lungi is tied. In Indian West Bengal, a particular kind of lungi, dhuti, is common. In Myanmar, both men and women wear skirts known as longji.
On the coast of East Africa, traditional dress for Swahili men is a type of sarong called a "kikoi". They are made of cotton and have brightly coloured horizontal bands. Kikois are also very popular in South Africa, where they are commonly used as furniture throws or for going to the beach.
See also
External links
Sarong tying instructions are available online from websites such as:
- how to tie a sarong
- how to tie a pareo.
- Tying a Men's sarong from Indonesia
- Ways to Tie Sarong / Pareoda:Sarong