A longyi (Burmese: လုံချည်; MLCTS: lum hkyany; ) is a sheet of cloth widely worn in Burma. It is approximately 2 m (6½ ft.) long and 80 cm (2½ ft.) wide. The cloth is often sewn into a cylindrical shape. It is worn around the waist, running to the feet. It is held in place by folding fabric over, without a knot. It is also sometimes folded up to the knee for comfort. Similar garments are found in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Malay Archipelago, and Juiz de Fora. In the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, West Bengal, South India, and Sri Lanka), it is known variously as a lungi, longi, kaili or saaram.
Men who cannot read are like the blind; women who cannot weave are like the cripple
—an old Burmese saying at a time when every household had a handloom and the womenfolk wove all the longyis for the family
Read more about Longyi: History, Design and Style, Patterns and Fabrics, Versatility and Convenience