Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Thai Tartan

If you head upcountry in Thailand, you'll see plaid cloths like this one all over the place, but it's not something you see in Bangkok very often these days. These colorful textiles known as pha khao ma are traditionally worn by men around their waists and have a multitude of other uses including as a head-wrap for farmers, as a cloth for swaddling babies, as a type of sarong to wear around the house, as a pillow when bundled together, and as a pack when gathering certain items such as herbs, rice, salt, and chilies. In the case of taxi drivers, it can be employed as a striking seat cover with a homespun feel.