When we think of the lungi, the image that often comes to mind is of men lounging in chequered comfort, sipping tea on a verandah. But few know that the lungi — or its many cultural siblings — was once an everyday garment worn proudly by women across South and Southeast Asia.
Long before the six-yard sari became the symbol of Indian femininity, women wrapped themselves in simpler garments. In the lush landscapes of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, women wore the mundu — a lungi-like wrap, paired with a blouse and shawl. It allowed them to work, move, and live with ease.
In Sri Lanka, the redda and hattaya was the everyday attire for Tamil and Sinhalese women. In Burma, it became the htamein — vibrant and pleated differently than the men’s longyi. And in Indonesia and Malaysia, the iconic sarong — woven with motifs and meanings — adorned women from all walks of life.
In rural Punjab, particularly before the 1950s–60s, women often wore a wrap-around lower garment resembling a lungi, especially for daily labor, housework, and in agricultural settings.
Comfort Was Power
In villages, forests, and coastal towns, the lungi was a garment of freedom. Women working in fields or at home didn’t have time for pleats and pins. They needed something practical — something that could be tied in seconds, moved with the body, and dried quickly after a monsoon rain.
The lungi did all of this — and more.
It wasn’t just utilitarian; it was graceful. Each region gave it a unique identity through color, fabric, and drape.
From Forgotten to Fashion
Over time, as urban fashion leaned toward Western cuts and standardized saris, the lungi slowly vanished from women’s wardrobes — relegated to rural life or male identity.
But today, fashion is turning full circle. Designers and women alike are reclaiming the lungi — as skirts, sarongs, co-ords, and wraparounds — blending the old with the new.
Varaahi Sutra: Reimagining the Lungi for Today
At Varaahi Sutra, we see the lungi not just as clothing, but as cultural memory. We’re inspired by its simplicity, its unstitched elegance, and its deep roots in women’s history.
Our collections draw from these inspirations — creating styles that are:
- Comfortable, like the original lungi
- Bold, like the women who wore them
- And timeless, like the culture they carry
Because the lungi isn’t just a garment —
It’s a story waiting to be told again.
