The national costume in Thailand is called “Chut Thai”, which is a truly iconic and culturally significant attire in Thailand. Thai dresses are frequently worn during cultural festivals, ceremonies, and celebratory occasions in Thailand.
Specifically, Chut Thai has a variety of styles and characteristics in its look, patterns and fabrics. So in this article, we will explore deeper into these national identification symbols to better understand their artistry and varieties!
Origins and history of Chut Thai
The development of Thai clothing and traditional dress styles was heavily influenced by various cultural exchanges over the centuries.
Thai dresses are influenced by the neighboring Khmer in the 7th century, with the key highlight of shorter dress styles.
After the reign of the Dvaravati Kingdom in the 6th-13th Century, Indian fashion had a significant impact on Thai fashion, as seen in the adoption of clothes like loincloths and the usage of metal belts and gold necklaces as accessories.
Types of Traditional Thai Dress
The distinct styles of Chut Thai (ชุดไทยเดิม) differ in genders in their cut, fabric, and ornamentation to represent the unique identities and societal expectations for Thai women and men. Particularly, men and women wear Chong Kben as an essential component of Chut Thai, which is a lower-body wrap-around silk adopted from Cambodia.
For women, the Chut Thai typically consists of a long, form-fitting dress called a “pha sinh” or “chan“, often adorned with sophisticated Thai patterns and embroidery.
For men, Chut Thai includes a shirt called a “sabai“, chong kraben or pants, and a wraparound, knee-length skirt called a “pha khao ma“, with optional knee-length socks.
Traditional Dress in Thailand for Women
Every dress for women was made up from multiple designs, outfits, patterns, and accessories. While some looks are more appropriate for specific occasions, others can be worn to every formal gathering.
Pha khao ma
The loincloth, or pha khao ma is a soft cotton fabric skirt that is traditionally used to wrap around the waist as a sarong in daily life.
Pha Sinh
Pha sinh is a long, fitted skirt wrapped around the waist and often made of Thai silk. Pha sinh is often made of colorful, patterned fabrics, featuring intricate embroidery, batik, or ikat designs.
Ruean Ton
Being the most casual dress, the Ruean Ton is a two-piece dress that is often worn for many occasions such as holidays, religious ceremonies and going to the temple. The outfit consists of a tube-like skirt made from silk with a striped or plain design. The skirt is paired with a collarless blouse with a row of buttons on the front and elbow-length sleeves.
Chakkri
Chakkri is a well-known and sophisticated traditional Thai attire that exudes grandeur fit for any formal event. The outfit consists of a sabai and a long tube skirt with two front pleats. A silk top that reaches the ground on one side and encircles the shoulders is called a sabai.
Siwalai
This dress is a one-piece gown with a sabai on the shoulder. It is considered the most formal and prestigious version of the Thai traditional costume. Moreover, men’s versions of Siwalai often feature a long-sleeved, collared shirt called a “phraratchathan”. And instead of a dress, men wear pha khao ma.
Traditional Costume in Thailand for Men
There are multiple different outfits in Thailand worn by men. However, the one formal costume is Suea Phraratchathan, considered the most formal and prestigious shirt style within the Thai traditional dress code. This traditional Thai costume was invented in 1979, designed with buttons fastened up the front, a long collar, and sleeves of varying lengths. At the bottom, there will be a chong kraben or pants.
Ready-to-wear Thais costume and check-in at Wat Arun Bangkok
One of the most popular activities in Bangkok is trying on the special and magnificent Thai costume. After choosing an authentic traditional costume rental shop that offers a wide range of styles and glamorous accessories for your likings, then visit Wat Arun – the reputable and wonderful temple to have the most incredible Insta-worthy shots.
After having a glimpse into the beauty and variety of Thailand’s national costume, we hope you learn some insights, have an inspiration to visit Thailand and try on these clothes once!
