Khmer traditional clothing refers to the traditional styles of dress worn by the Khmer people from ancient times to the present.
Bottoms
The sampot is the traditional garment of the Khmer, 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 that 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 varies in color, material and dimensions, depending on the gender and social class of the wearer.
Historically the dates back to the Funan era, in which a king, at the request of Chinese envoys, ordered his subjects to cover themselves.
Sampot Chang Kben
Sampot chang kben () 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 , 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 on special occasions. Men may also wear it, but in traditional patterns suited to their gender. The has also been adopted in Thailand and Laos, where it is known as a .
Sampot Tep Apsara
Sampot Tep Apsara () is a type of sampot from the Khmer Empire era associated with courtly Apsaras. Its depiction can still be seen on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat. Generally, the sampot tep apsara is both knotted at the waist and secured with a belt. Long pleats are gathered at the front, running the full length to the wearer's ankles.
The sampot tep apsara is actually knotted twice at the waist, one on the left and one on the right; the left knot is longer, while the right knot is more decorative. Scholars trace this garment to the sari of India. Today, the sampot tep apsara is worn by traditional dancers in modern Cambodia.
Sampot Chang Samloy
Sampot chang samloy () is a long unisex daytime skirt. The word initially referred to colour, which in ancient times was always black; now it is sometimes used for a thin, soft fabric with decoration and pattern similar to the sarong Batik, although the garment may be smaller. This style of dress needs a knot to secure it, making it similar to the sampot chang kben. However, it also needs a fold at the left or right side, like a sarong. Another similar , primarily worn by women and known as the , was knotted in the middle and hitched at the knee to facilitate leg movement. Scholars consider this style of dress to derive from the Indian Lunghi. The was commonly worn in the post-Angkor era.
Sampot Charobab
() is a long silk skirt embroidered with gold thread. It is worn by women in Khmer classical dance, by newlyweds and by the character of Mae Huo () in the Cambodian Royal Ploughing Ceremony.
Sampot Seng
() is a short embroidered silk skirt.
Sampot Sesay
() is a monochromatic skirt with a band along the lower hem embroidered in gold or silver. Today, this skirt is more popular among Laotian women than among the Khmer.
Sampot Lbaeuk
() is a long silk-embroidered skirt. Today it is worn in marriage ceremonies, as is the . The was mostly worn by Cambodian nobility in the Longvek era.
Sampot Anlonh
() is a long skirt with vertical stripes, commonly worn by old people or farmers in the countryside. The is similar to the Burmese Longyi.
Tops
There are many tops or shirts (, ) worn in Cambodia. The traditional was invented at the end of the Khmer Empire at the turn of the 14th century.
Av Chang Pong
Av chang pong () is a piece of fabric in any color worn by Khmer people at the end of the 13th century. It was primarily worn by women, who started using it to cover their chest, leaving only the stomach uncovered. This method, called "Chang Pol", covered the back and each side of the fabric to join at the chest and was rolled up and tied. It then evolved into , a thick and strong fabric cover on the chest, which hugged the body closely.