Sarong is a thing that is of great importance in many countries, although it is called differently everywhere. For example, residents of the South Pacific islands of Tahiti and Hawaii call it "Pareo", in the countries of Southeast Asia - Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, they call it "Surong", in India similar clothes are "Shri", and in Africa - " Kanga. In ancient times of Rome and Greece, the sarong was known as "Toga".
This article uses the Indonesian name "sarong" as it is its most popular name today. It is in this country that most sarongs are produced.
What is it about?
Traditional sarong is a fabric sewn in the manner of a pipe. In countries of origin, it is worn by both men and women. In Indonesia, the sarong is an item of everyday wear, as well as an integral part of the traditional ethnic attire. It is made from a variety of fabrics, including woven plaids, batik, silk plaids or silk duck ikats.
Thanks to Hollywood, sarong clothing has acquired an exoticand an erotic sense that transformed it from tubular to canvas.
Origin story
Initially, the sarong as a piece of clothing was the dress of the seafaring peoples of the Malay Peninsula near Sumatra and Java. It was introduced to the island of Madurai, which is along the northern coast of Java. Interestingly, only the royal family had the right to wear sarongs of certain styles and patterns in this area. Imitation of these things and wearing them in public was punishable by death!
What makes sarong fabric unique is the batik decoration. Creating such a masterpiece takes many hours of hard work. This is a very long and complicated process.
Types of traditional model
In the dress tradition of Java and the adjacent western Indonesian islands, the sarong is an alternative to the cain. But it's not only in Java. It's quite a popular piece of clothing there. The north coast batik sarongs are known for their kepal floral bouquet and profuse flower decoration. At the turn of the twentieth century, Eurasian batik makers experimented with new chemical dyes and motifs, and the blouse worn with the sarong was shortened to thigh length. In Kain Panjang, batik has similar muted colors (browns, indigo, creams and whites).
Sarong varies in size and material. In all twenty-six provinces of Indonesia, there are various forms of ethnic dress in which sarongs worn with outerwear are prominent:
-
In South Sulawesi, the Bugin silk sarong is verywide.
- In Maluku, sarongs are layered: the first is long, and the second is folded and worn at the hips.
- In Roth, the handmade sarong ikat is narrow and tall. Such clothes would almost hide the wearer's head. Here the sarong is fastened on the chest, and the excess is folded, and fastened again to the waist with a belt. Another ikat (not a sarong) is draped over the woman's shoulders. The overall silhouette is tubular.
What is meant by a sarong today
The sarong invented by Hollywood bears little resemblance to the original. Hedy Lamarr in The White Cargo (1942) and Dorothy Lamour in The Road to Bali (1952) wear wrap skirts (more like pareos). They are tied at the side in a way that accentuates rather than hides the curve of the hips. Both main characters wear tight tops that expose their lower backs and shoulders, bracelets, heavy necklaces and earrings. Here, the sarong is a presentation of exotic femininity that is meant to captivate Western film audiences.
Today, a sarong is sometimes called a fashionable wrap skirt. And yet, the most popular meaning is a light, bright, rectangular piece of fabric that is worn in the summer on the beach, when visiting a sauna or pool. Girls especially love these clothes for their versatility, because they are suitable for any build.
Here are six of the most popular ways to use a studied piece of clothing:
- Lightweight sarong skirt.
- A quick way to close a swimsuit.
- Dress"toga".
- Shawl or scarf.
- Turban.
- Beach cover.
Some people call sarongs handmade art. Others consider them beachwear. The name is not so important, it is more important what to do with a piece of fabric. How to wear it?
8 ways to tie a sarong
Those who believe that a sarong can only be worn in one particular way are deeply mistaken. There are many options for tying this rectangular fabric, and all of them are easy to repeat. Here are 8 different ways to tie a sarong:
-
Short beach skirt with side knot. This is the most common option. It is enough to fold the sarong in half (lengthwise or diagonally), wrap it around the waist, just below the navel and tie the loose ends at the side.
Sarong - short skirt -
Open front sundress. This style will allow you to show your body in all its glory and look more elegant. The sarong will cover only the chest area. To tie such a sundress, you need to wrap the fabric from back to front under the armpits, and twist the loose ends and tie around the neck.
Stylish sarong, open front - Long slit skirt. It is performed similarly to the first option, only before tying the knot, the fabric should not be folded in half.
- Brazilian style dress. This option may well pass for a real dress. To tie it, you need to freely tie two adjacent corners around the neck, forming smoothlypleated cutout. Then, picking up the two ends at the level of the hips, lift them up and tie at the waist.
-
Classic version of the dress. A sarong tied this way will make you look great, no matter your body type. To tie it, you need to: place the canvas horizontally at the back, pull it forward under the arms, pull the free ends crosswise and tie a knot at the back of the head.
Classic sarong dress -
Robe. You do not need to sew anything in this case either. One knot - and a carefree, but stylish accessory is ready. Looks casual and chic. To perform it, you need to place the sarong horizontally from the back under the arms, and tie the free ends, at the very edge, to tie. Now it remains to throw the formed knot back around the neck, and the dressing gown is ready. For a more stylish version, you can add a belt around the waist.
Sarong robe - Kimono style. Free option, the implementation of which takes a minimum of time. To wear a sarong in this style, you need to spread it around the body like a shawl, and tie the ends at the wrist (so as not to slip off). The longer the canvas, the more spectacular the kimono looks.
- Neck dress with a twist. This option is similar to a standard dress tied behind the neck, but has a fashionable twist. They begin to tie it, like the classic version. The only difference is that before tying a knot on the neck, they make a knot on the chest, and twist the ends with a tourniquet, forming a kind of tie.
With so many options, there's no doubt that the sarong is more than just a stylish scarf to hide a swimsuit, it's a fully functional piece of clothing.
Conclusion
The colors and patterns of the real sarong are stunningly beautiful! In addition, they cannot be found in a large department store. Each is a work of art in itself, because it is made by hand, not mass-produced.
Sarongs are gaining more and more popularity. People of different cultures interact with each other. As a result, previously unseen things become available. One of these is the sarong.
