The Burmese traditional ‘trousers’ or skirt known as a longyi is still widely used throughout all of Myanmar. Upon arriving, I decided to buy one just to try it out and blend in. I didn’t expect to like my 2,500 kyat investment so much.

The longyi can be worn as a basic skirt but is so much more. You can make a pocket, make it tighter or more relaxed, and you can even turn it into shorts! Here is a step by step guide on how to wear one as taught by the wonderful staff of the Fortune Hotel in Mandalay.

Normal Longyi (no pocket)

First - Get inside the longyi — Step 1 – Get inside the longyi

Step 2 - Fold it to your particular liking for height — Step 2 – Fold it to your particular liking for height

Step 4 - Grab the ends and fold them in. Twist tight. — Step 4 – Grab the ends and fold them in. Twist tight.

Step 5 - Twist one more time — Step 5 – Twist one more time

Step 6 - Fold the left over parts into the longyi — Step 6 – Fold the left over parts into the longyi

Step 7 - Smile, you are blending right in — Step 7 – Smile, you are blending right in

Pocket Longyi

Maybe you are tired with the normal longyi and would like to know how to make a pocket to put your wallet or phone. Afterall, you don’t want to carry a purse too! Repeat Steps 1-3 from above.

Step 4a - Grab the middle of the longyi and pull it up — Step 4a – Grab the middle of the longyi and pull it up

Step 5a – Fold the sides in like in step 4 above

Step 7a – Fold into the longyi like before. But you should have an extra piece of cloth in the middle

Step 8a - Check out this awesome pocket you have left. — Step 8a – Check out this awesome pocket you have left. If it is not the right size, you might have to do this again.

Step 9a - Place a phone or wallet into the pocket — Step 9a – Place a phone or wallet into the pocket

Step 10a - Fold the pocket into the longyi — Step 10a – Fold the pocket into the longyi

Step 11a - If you did it right, the item in the pocket should be nice and secure. — Step 11a – If you did it right, the item in the pocket should be nice and secure. If not, try again.

The first few tries, you will probably feel, and look like this:

After a while, you will get it and look like this

I hope you now know how to put on a longyi 🙂

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Julio Moreno

Julio is a California native who has lived abroad since 2009 as an expat in South Korea and New Zealand. He is especially passionate about experiencing other cultures and visiting as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as possible.

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3 thoughts on “How to Wear a Longyi – Myanmar”

Michelle
October 20, 2014 at 11:06 am

Hey! What happened to your hair?
- Julio MorenoPost author
  October 20, 2014 at 7:06 pm
  
  I realized bald was far more desirable than bald-ING.
Mg Mg Myint
October 23, 2014 at 1:08 pm

Nice