MYANMAR TRADITIONAL COSTUMES
In Myanmar, there are about 135 ethnic groups. Among them, the major races are Bamar, Shan, Kayin, Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Mon and Rakhine. They all have their own dialect, tradition, culture, legendary and traditional costume.
The traditional costume consist longyi (sarong) and eingyi (blouse) & (shirt). Centuries ago, firstly the people from India, Tibet and Mongolia came into Myanmar. The way of the dressing of our earliest people Pyus was like Indian people. When King Anawyatha won the battle in India, he brought also Indian traditions and cultures. So, on that time, Indian culture influenced in Myanmar.
Bamar men wear ankle -length patterns of checks, plaids or stripes Longyi in any kinds of color. Kayin traditional longyi has solid reds bordered with horizontal stripes at the middle. Rakine patterns fracture a thick, high- relief weave in light, reflective grays and blues. Kachin longyi is in checks of black, green and deep purple. Mon longyi is in small checks on red, bordered with horizontal stripes at the middle looks something like in Kayin longyi. Chin longyi is like Bamar longyi But it has a column.
Shan and Kayah mens traditional costumes are quite different, because they wear loose trousers. Shan trousers have light brown, brown, terracotta or grey color but Kayah trousers are only in black.
These traditional longyis have about 2 meters length swan lengthwise. This makes the cloth for the unfinished garment. These are made by cotton.
To wear, they tie them, they gather the front of the longyi to create two short lengths of material, then twist them into a half knot, tucking one end in at the waist, while allowing the other to protrude from the knot. Shan men tie their trousers like longyi Kayah men tie them pink band at the waist on their trousers.
Their white eingyi looks like shirt has mandarin -collar. Bamar, Kachin, Mon, Shan, Kayah and Rakhine men wear traditional Jacket called teik -pon on their eingyi. It has white, grey, black or terracotta color. But kayin and Chin men wear their long dress instead of tiek-pon.
They put the gaung-baung turban on their head and for footwear , simple rubber or velvet slippers.
Bamar womens calf-length longyis are in solid colors, flower prints and many kinds of designs. One of the famous designs feature wavy or zig zag acheig patterns. Rakhine women traditional longyi is also in acheig. Mon longyi has red base colour, on it partial stripes and very small checks design. Kayin and Kayah longyis are in horizontal stripes on red or green colour. Kayah women tie them beautifully with very long band in front of them, at the waist. Shan longyi has horizontal or vertical stripes at the middle part. Upper and lower parts are in plain colour. Kachin Longyi has the manaw columns, on the red or black colour base. Its quite short, not swan. Ng like us they tie them like this. They wear many loose cane belts. At their legs, they tie two pieces of cloth.
Its made of wool as their longyi. Bamar, Kayin, Chin, Kayah, Mon, Rakhine and Shan womens longyis are nearly the same, made by cotton. Its like mens longyi swan lengthwise. A black waistband is stitched along the waist end, to wear; this waistband is folded in front to form a wide pleat, and then tucked behind the waistband to one side.
Kachin eingyi has only black colour and it is very interested and very beautiful because it is decorated by many pieces of silver. Kayin women wear long dress called thin-dai decorated by many threads. Bamar, Mon, Rakhine, Chin, Kayah, and Shan womens eingyis are nearly the same .It has a form-fitting waist length blouse. Kayah women tie this traditional shawl on their eingyi. It is embroiled of male and female royal birds of them called Keinayee & Keinayah. Bamar, Rakhine and Mon women put the shawl on their shoulders.
Kayah, Layin , Shan , Kachin, Chin women tie a lovely band on their head Bamar, Mon and Radhine women wear beautiful flowers in their hair.
The traditional costume consist longyi (sarong) and eingyi (blouse) & (shirt). Centuries ago, firstly the people from India, Tibet and Mongolia came into Myanmar. The way of the dressing of our earliest people Pyus was like Indian people. When King Anawyatha won the battle in India, he brought also Indian traditions and cultures. So, on that time, Indian culture influenced in Myanmar.
Bamar men wear ankle -length patterns of checks, plaids or stripes Longyi in any kinds of color. Kayin traditional longyi has solid reds bordered with horizontal stripes at the middle. Rakine patterns fracture a thick, high- relief weave in light, reflective grays and blues. Kachin longyi is in checks of black, green and deep purple. Mon longyi is in small checks on red, bordered with horizontal stripes at the middle looks something like in Kayin longyi. Chin longyi is like Bamar longyi But it has a column.
Shan and Kayah mens traditional costumes are quite different, because they wear loose trousers. Shan trousers have light brown, brown, terracotta or grey color but Kayah trousers are only in black.
These traditional longyis have about 2 meters length swan lengthwise. This makes the cloth for the unfinished garment. These are made by cotton.
To wear, they tie them, they gather the front of the longyi to create two short lengths of material, then twist them into a half knot, tucking one end in at the waist, while allowing the other to protrude from the knot. Shan men tie their trousers like longyi Kayah men tie them pink band at the waist on their trousers.
Their white eingyi looks like shirt has mandarin -collar. Bamar, Kachin, Mon, Shan, Kayah and Rakhine men wear traditional Jacket called teik -pon on their eingyi. It has white, grey, black or terracotta color. But kayin and Chin men wear their long dress instead of tiek-pon.
They put the gaung-baung turban on their head and for footwear , simple rubber or velvet slippers.
Bamar womens calf-length longyis are in solid colors, flower prints and many kinds of designs. One of the famous designs feature wavy or zig zag acheig patterns. Rakhine women traditional longyi is also in acheig. Mon longyi has red base colour, on it partial stripes and very small checks design. Kayin and Kayah longyis are in horizontal stripes on red or green colour. Kayah women tie them beautifully with very long band in front of them, at the waist. Shan longyi has horizontal or vertical stripes at the middle part. Upper and lower parts are in plain colour. Kachin Longyi has the manaw columns, on the red or black colour base. Its quite short, not swan. Ng like us they tie them like this. They wear many loose cane belts. At their legs, they tie two pieces of cloth.
Its made of wool as their longyi. Bamar, Kayin, Chin, Kayah, Mon, Rakhine and Shan womens longyis are nearly the same, made by cotton. Its like mens longyi swan lengthwise. A black waistband is stitched along the waist end, to wear; this waistband is folded in front to form a wide pleat, and then tucked behind the waistband to one side.
Kachin eingyi has only black colour and it is very interested and very beautiful because it is decorated by many pieces of silver. Kayin women wear long dress called thin-dai decorated by many threads. Bamar, Mon, Rakhine, Chin, Kayah, and Shan womens eingyis are nearly the same .It has a form-fitting waist length blouse. Kayah women tie this traditional shawl on their eingyi. It is embroiled of male and female royal birds of them called Keinayee & Keinayah. Bamar, Rakhine and Mon women put the shawl on their shoulders.
Kayah, Layin , Shan , Kachin, Chin women tie a lovely band on their head Bamar, Mon and Radhine women wear beautiful flowers in their hair.