Until recently, phasin — a long fabric which is often wrapped around the waist like a skirt — was considered outdated.
It was seen more as a relic from the past, a piece of cultural heritage that belonged in the museum as a part of an anthropological exhibit rather than daily life.
Back when phasin was still widely worn, people used to weave their own clothes with their own patterns to wear.
While this D-I-Y approach to fashion managed to last for centuries even after the arrival of modern fabrics and technologies, today phasin is generally seen as a novelty.
Not any more — at least in the lower northeastern provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram and Surin.
Female students and staff at some universities and government offices have been encouraged to start wearing phasin to classes and work, especially on special occasions.
The push is a part of the government’s initiative to promote local cultural heritages as a part of daily life.
In Buri Ram and Surin, some villages have even become famous for weaving exquisitely-patterned phasin.
Here, a well-made and beautifully patterned cotton phasin can fetch many thousands of baht.
The premium version made of silk may go for over 50,000 baht per piece, especially if they were woven by a famous traditional craftsman.
Akradej Deeoom, 37, a lecturer of Western University, Buri Ram Campus, told the Bangkok Post the government’s push has been well-received by the public.
“It’s practical. Plus, students are only required to wear them once a week and on special occasions,” he said. – Bangkok Post
