How to Fold a Thai Skirt

Often made from colorful cotton or silk, Thai skirts fold down over wrap-around ties.

In Thailand, both women and men wear various styles of folded wrap-around sarong skirts made from cotton or silk. Thai women's skirts are sometimes called Pha Sin and both men and women wear Thai sarong "fisherman's pants." According to the popular travel guidebook "Lonely Planet," wearing a Thai sarong is a comfortable way to travel in warm climates. Whether a Thai skirt is a simple beach style or worn to an evening event, fold the fabric using a simple folding technique.

Things You'll Need

• Thai sarong-style skirt

Instructions

1. Hold the widest part of the skirt out behind you. Stretch your arms and hold each end of the wrap skirt in each hand. The ties should dangle down.

2. Arrange the fabric so that the small hole for pulling the ties through is at your hip.

3. Pull the side of the skirt that is opposite the small hole across your front firmly. Feed the tie through the small hole.

4. Bring the other side of the fabric across the front of the fabric. Wrap the ties around your hips. Tie them in the front with a small bow. There should be approximately 4 inches of fabric above the ties.

5. Fold the additional 4 inches of fabric over to cover the ties and create a thick belt.

Tips & Warnings

• Hand-dyed Thai women's skirts should be hand-washed so the colors do not bleed.

References

• "Time Magazine: Land of Styles - Bangkok"'; Ilya Garger, Feb. 20, 2006
• "Lonely Planet"; Thailand; 2003
• Thai Gift House: Thai Sarongs Clothing and Accessories