How to wear Thai costume (Part III – Sarong/Loincloths – Jeeb Wai Chai Phok)
This certain style of bottomwear – Jeeb Wai Chai Phok has 2 main steps: 1. Making the hems (Chai Phok) and 2. Styling the front pleat (Jeeb Nha)
Making the hems (Chai Phok)
- 1. Wrap sarong or loincloth around the body, arrange the edges to be even and symmetrical.
- 2. Lift up the fabric and bundle up both of its ends around the waist, tie them up just above the belly-button.
- 3. Arrange the fabric to make ‘Chai Phok’, which is essentially how the cloth is tied and tucked at the waist. Same as other bottomwear, there are several ways to style a loincloth but the following will be the easiest styling method. Start with folding the ends of the fabric, folding the clothes inward until it reaches the tied waistband.
- 4. Tuck in the folded hem into either side of the knot (of the tied waistband) and neaten up.
- 5. Bundle up the hems and tucked it up the waist with neat glide and adjustment.
Note : Chai Pok usually styled on the opposite side of the shawl for balance.
How to make Jeeb Nha (front pleat)
- 1. Jeeb Nha, is the area where the fabric is let down and let sway loosely at the front of the wearer. To have a neat, stylish pleat, it starts the same way with Chai Phok, folding the remaining fabric in bundles. The girth should not be bigger than 3-3.5 inches.
- 2. Lift the plated cloth up to even out the fabric. The overall hem should not be higher than ankle length.
- 3. Once the hem is arranged in length, tuck the top, folding the edge over the knot made earlier, and styling the fabric neatly.
- 4. Use a strand or belt to buckle up around the waist area but make sure to place the tied waistband (Chia Phok) at the top for display.
Note: Alternatively, you can sew up the front pleats and waistband with basic needlework to keep the folds and pleats from unwinding.
- Read more >> How to wear Thai costume (Part I – Shawl like a Thai)
- Read more >> How to wear Thai costume (Part II – Sapak Shawl)
- Read more >> How to wear Thai costume (Part IV – Tucked Loincloth (Jong Kraben)
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