Khmer clothing

Khmer clothing, that is, Cambodian clothing, refers to the styles of dress worn by the Khmer people from ancient times to the present.

The Sampot is the national garment of Cambodia, still popular among men and women of the lower class. It is basically a sarong similar to those worn in neighboring Laos and Thailand, with slight variations. Measuring approximately one and a half meters long, the two ends of the cloth are sewn together to form a tubular garment which is worn over the lower half of the body, extending to the ankles. The wearer ties a knot of excess cloth in front to secure it at the waist. The sampot varies in color, material and dimensions, depending on the gender and social class of the wearer.

Historically the sampot dates back to the Funan era, in which a Cambodian king, at the request of Chinese envoys, ordered his subjects to cover themselves.

Sampot Châng Kben (សំពត់ចងក្បិន, ALA-LC: saṃbát caṅ kpin) was the preferred choice of women of the upper and middle classes for day-to-day wear, although the practice died out at the beginning of the twentieth century. It dates back to ancient Cambodia, when deities were said to wear it. Scholars consider it ultimately to derive from the Indian Dhoti. Unlike the typical Sampot, it is more like pants than a skirt. It is a rectangular piece of cloth three metres long and one metre wide. It is worn by wrapping it around the waist, stretching it away from the body and twisting the knot. The knot is then pulled between the legs and held by a metal belt. Regardless of class, all Cambodian women wear the Sampot Chang Kben on special occasions. Men may also wear it, but in traditional patterns suited to their gender. The Sampot Chang Kben has also been adopted in Thailand and Laos, where it is known as a Chong Kraben.

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