Southeast Asia Traditions

Buddhist culture has had a lasting and significant impact in mainland Southeast Asia. The main cities that focus on Buddhism are (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam). Most Buddhists in Indochina practice Theravada Buddhism. In the case of Vietnam, it is also influenced much by Confucianism and the culture of China. Southeast Asia is recognized for its legendary aesthetic in traditional woven textiles. The region of Southeast Asia includes eleven countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar , East Timor, Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand. Its geography is composed of both mainland and insular areas. There are many differences in language, culture, and religion, the forms of textiles and clothing are remarkably similar.

People of mainland Southeast Asia inhabit the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Minority ethnic people who settled along the border areas of the countries are referred to as hill tribes. These hill-tribe people migrated over 1,000 years ago from the southern part of China into Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. Each tribe has its own distinct culture, religion, language, and arts. They make their homes in the highlands, maintaining an agricultural lifestyle and preserving their way of living with only slight changes. Both lowland and highland Southeast Asian people have created rich textiles representing their unique aesthetic in fashion and clothing.

Clothing forms worn in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia are quite similar. Influences from India and China, carried through trade and religious teachings, are evident in clothing styles. Archaeological evidence, mural paintings, and ancient sculpture indicate that the people in this region were weaving textiles more than 3,000 years ago, and these textiles were often used to wrap the body. Women are depicted in both mural paintings and ancient sculptures wearing ankle-length wrapped skirts. Men are depicted wearing loincloth-type garments. A wrapping cloth could also be used to form a shawl to protect and conceal the upper body. It appears that wrapping styles varied depending on the occasion of wear and the activity of the person.