clothing

sarong

longi

Rohingya men❜s fashion

CLP0009

Rohingya men❜s clothing is influenced by many cultures. From the Indian subcontinent, Rohingya men take the long straight-cut shirt with side slits called panjabi kurta or just panjabi; from China, they take the collarless buttoned shirt called anteri (changshan); and, from the west, they take the ubiquitous bazu (shirt) and gonji (t-shirt). However, they stay true to their Arakan roots by pairing this array of shirts with the traditional longi (sarong). Longi is the official and traditional attire for all men of Myanmar, including Rohingya, for all occasions ? including work, special occasions such as weddings and festivals, and daily wear. Since displacement, however, it has become more common for younger men in the refugee camps to wear trousers instead of the longi, which is not office-appropriate wear in Bangladesh. Wearing panjabi rather than bazu has also become more common in displacement, as the panjabi is considered the highest form of men❜s dress in Bangladesh. Sartorial style varies by socioeconomic circumstance, which determines choice of designs, quality, and fabric, and professional. For example, A Rohingya mollah (religious preacher) has his own distinct attire, the ankle-length robe with long sleeves called jubba, borrowed from the Middle East. These garments can be purchased readymade from stores or custom-made by local tailors. The traditional attire for Rohingya men called longi is a type of sarong. Longi is a rectangular piece of cloth stitched into tube-shape, covering the lower body from the navel to the ankles. The cloth is gathered at the waist and tied into a knot. In Myanmar, all government staff and office-going employees wear longi to work, but at the camp it is not acceptable to wear longi to the office. This clothing is made in Myanmar but can also be found in other parts of the Indian sub-continent.