INTEREST in rediscovering traditional Myanmar overlapped-flap jackets and ‘Cheik Htamein’ (woven silk sarongs for women) in obscurity has been growing, according to Black Magic Fashion & Design Castle.
These traditional dresses have almost disappeared because they are not worn by many people, so they are remaking them based on old photographs, it said.
“It’s a commoner’s dress we are rediscovering. The royal dress is still worn by brides and grooms, so it hasn’t disappeared. As for the jacket with overlapping front flaps and ‘Cheik Htamein’, the commoners don’t wear them much, so they are lost in obscurity. That’s why we’re rediscovering them from old photos. It will be expensive to get a tailored make for a single dress. So, we will distribute them at a cheap price after making them. People like them, and there’s a lot of interest,” said Ma Theingi Win (Mal Mal Phayar) of that shop in Mohnyin, Kachin State.
The remaking of these traditional dresses was aimed at young people to remember and wear them again at traditional events.
“The goal is that if we can make a person wear these costumes at the beginning, youth around him/her will be acquainted with and remember them. If they know this is our costume, then it’s okay. If they start wearing it, we can be greatly happy. They may opt to wear Myanmar costumes during traditional festivals, and the rest of the time, they can wear as they like. Traditional costumes are the best for traditional events, she said. — Thit Taw/ZN
