 Mainly
to make Cheik longyi, special garments worn by both men and women. The
model worn by men is called Pasoe which sarong-like attire and the model
worn by women is called Htamin which is like a skirt. Both Pasoe and
Htamin have a distinctive wave pattern. Cheik longyi have been in
fashion and popular with royalty and commoners for many centuries. It
takes great skill to weave these fabrics with their varied colors and
intricate designs. Weaving to form traditional designs to produce a
distinctive and elegant pattern can only be done by hand. Cheik longyi
were especially favored during King Mindon's reign. Foreigners who came
to pay homage fitted themselves out in the most resplendent Cheik woven
in more than thirty intricate and beautiful patterns. Skeins of silk
thread are boiled in water and then washed clear of starch in cold
water. Once the silk has reached the desired soft and delicate texture
is dyed and readied for the loom. The young women weavers must have
great skill even three years of training may not be sufficient for a
weaver to become a proficient artisan. A Cheik Longyi takes 180 times
longer to weave than an ordinary longyi. The weavers working together
can complete only four centimeters of fabric per day and it takes almost
one month to finish a single longyi of this type. Myanmars are justly
proud to dress themselves in such prestigious and artistically crafted
material to attend official functions, religious and social occasions,
weddings and ceremonies. Various artists on the Myanmar stage also wear
these resplendent garments. The main center of Cheik longyi weaving is
in Amarapura, close to Mandalay.
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