Many males in rural Thailand use the multipurpose loincloth, in Thai called Pha Khao Ma. It can be wrapped around the head as protection from the sun or around the body to ward of the cold. Loincloths can be used as belts, bathing sarongs, as a garment placed across the shoulders when one leaves home, or as an ordinary dress to wear at home.
More importantly, this multi-functional garment is not the domain of males only; it is also used occasionally by females. For instance, again in rural Thailand, Pha Khao Ma is used to substitute for a brassiere. It is sometimes wrapped around a baby like a blanket and it can also substitute for a baby's cot or be used as a hammock to lull the baby to sleep or stop crying.
Pha Khao Ma is a Thai cloth seen in many households and in country areas it may be woven by housewives from cotton or silk. Rectangular-shaped and measuring around 80 centimeters wide and 2 meters long, Pha Khao Ma in the old days were usually dyed a single color. Later, two-color garments appeared some with square patterns either black and white and green. Loincloths available today are found as a single design for the whole piece or with special designs on the hemline.
