Burmese Htamein (Sarong or Longyi)
Orange with blue and yellow machine embroidery
A traditional wraparound skirt worn by women in Myanmar, acting as the female equivalent of the gender-neutral longyi, which is the general term for the sarong worn by both sexes across the country. Distinct from the men’s paso, which typically features simple checks or stripes, a women’s htamein is often vibrant, colorful, and decorated with floral prints, geometric motifs, or traditional zig-zag patterns like acheik. A htamein wraps differently and is frequently paired with a fitted, buttonless jacket called a htaingmathein or a formal blouse.
The Htamein is a symbol of grace, identity, and national pride, commonly worn for everyday use as well as formal occasions like weddings and religious festivals. Students, office workers, and civil servants in Myanmar often have dress codes requiring traditional attire of a longyi paired with a formal shirt or blouse.
Title: Burmese Htamein
Date: 2018
Geography: Rangoon, Myanmar
Medium: Cotton
Dimensions: H. 78 in. W. 42 in.
Provenance: Purchased in textile market with Maddie Koch
Inventory Number: MY.01
