한국국제교류재단

COVER STORY

Traditional Clothing as an Embodiment of Life, History, and Culture
Prof.Park Hee Jeong Division of Design, School of Art, Baekseok Culture University

The longyi is a long, skirt-like item of traditional clothing that is representative of Myanmar.

Based on the notion that fashion is a mirror that reflects a particular era, the traditional clothing of ASEAN countries are an especially detailed representation of history, culture, and daily life. The musical Miss Saigon, which depicts the love between Kim, a Vietnamese woman, and Chris, a US G.I. sergeant, is no exception: the áo dài, a traditional Vietnamese dress frequently worn by Kim, blends an Asian-inspired collar with tailoring that is distinctly Western. The Indonesian kebaya, which began being worn in the 15th and 16th centuries, is evolving according to changing customs. Due to its strong influence in neighboring countries, the kebaya is now literally traveling the world as the inspiration for flight attendant uniforms, not only for Garuda Indonesia but also for Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. Meanwhile, Lalisa, a member of the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK, recently gained attention by wearing a rad klao, a traditional Thai headpiece, and chut Thai, a dress whose name literally means “Thai outfit,” in a music video for a track off her solo album Lalisa. As such, the traditional clothing of each ASEAN country remains relevant in the 21st century by adapting to current trends and needs.

Article may not reflect the opinion of the editorial board of the ASEAN Culture House Monthly.