Av Pak ( km, អាវប៉ាក់, also pronounced ''Aao Pak'') is a traditional

blouse A blouse (blau̇s, 'blau̇z, ) is a loose-fitting upper garment that was worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women, and children.The Concise Oxford English Dictionary It is typically gathered at the waist or hips (by tight hem, pleats, parter ...

-dress worn by women in Cambodia. Its literal translation is

embroidery Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on c ...

shirt A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body (from the neck to the waist). Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for a broad variety of upper-body garments and undergarments. I ...

in English.The blouse shared many attributes with the

Kebaya A kebaya is an upper garment traditionally worn by women in Southeast Asia, notably in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Southern Thailand. Outside of Southeast Asia, it is worn by Javanese, Malays and Portuguese Eurasians in Australi ...

blouse-dress of Indonesia, including the elaborate embroidered gold-threads used in formal versions of the Kebaya. It is usually worn with the

Sampot A ''sampot'' ( km, សំពត់, ), a long, rectangular cloth worn around the lower body, is a traditional dress in Cambodia. It can be draped and folded in several different ways. The traditional dress is similar to the dhoti of Southern As ...

Hol, a garment worn around the lower body which sometimes uses a more formal and elegant gold thread in the Khmer tradition. However, the

Sarong A sarong or sarung () is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist, worn in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, Northern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric often has woven plaid o ...

is still frequently used with the Av Pak by ethnic

Chams The Cham (Cham: ''Čaṃ'') or Champa people (Cham: , ''Urang Campa''; vi, Người Chăm or ; km, ជនជាតិចាម, ) are an Austronesian ethnic group. From the 2nd century to 1832 the Cham populated Champa, a contiguous territo ...

and Javanese in the poor and rural parts of the country. The

Khmer people The Khmer people ( km, ជនជាតិខ្មែរ, ) are a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to Cambodia. They comprise over 90% of Cambodia's population of 17 million.

consider the Av Pak to be a classic yet modern suit-dress which uses traditional Cambodian embroidery. In the 21st century, the blouse has come to be considered the

national garment A folk costume (also regional costume, national costume, traditional garment, or traditional regalia) expresses an identity through costume, which is usually associated with a geographic area or a period of time in history. It can also indicat ...

of Cambodia. Traditional upper garments have lost their popularity among Cambodian women. The ''Av Bopock'', a tube shirt or tube dress is too closely associated with the

Cham people The Cham (Cham: ''Čaṃ'') or Champa people (Cham: , ''Urang Campa''; vi, Người Chăm or ; km, ជនជាតិចាម, ) are an Austronesian ethnic group. From the 2nd century to 1832 the Cham populated Champa, a contiguous territo ...

, an ethnic minority in Cambodia and the

Sabai ''Sbai'' ( km, ស្បៃ ; lo, ສະໄບ; Malay: ''Sebai''; Jawi: ''سباي''; th, สไบ, ) or ''phaa biang'' ( lo, ຜ້າບ່ຽງ; th, ผ้าเบี่ยง ) is a shawl-like garment or breast cloth worn in mainland ...

, a shawl-like shoulder wrap dating back to the Khmer Empire era, is now considered too immodest because of the thin cloth used in the garment and the style of baring one shoulder when wearing the

.Seams of Change, by Reyum p. 71

Gallery

File:Lovekclothing.jpg, A Traditional Fashion Runway of Cambodia, joined by several models in the costume worn during

Lovek Longvek or Lavek ( km, លង្វែក, or , ; meaning "intersection" or "crossroads") was a city in Cambodia. It was the second capital city during the Cambodia's Post-Angkor period which began after the Angkor era. The city was known to ear ...

period. In the photo, The Lady at the left behind the man, is worn as the earliest form of Av Pak with Chang Kben. File:Khmer Modern Style Dress Blouse.jpg, Khmer modern style blouse File:Sisowath of Cambodia court ladies.jpg, Six favorite court lady of king

Sisowath Sisowath ( km, ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ, ; 7 September 1840 – 9 August 1927) was King of Cambodia from 27 April 1904 to his death in 1927. He was the son of King Ang Duong and half brother of Prince Si Votha and King Norodom. He is the ...

worn different forms of Kebaya influenced. From left to right, the first two worn the Form of ''Av Pak'', followed by one worn Av Sarabap with the next two were in Nyonya Kebaya influenced, Av Tneal Pkal and ends with one was sitting in her beautiful Av Sarabap.

References

External links

collection of Av Pak in various style
{{Clothing Cambodian clothing Tops (clothing) Embroidery

Gallery

See also

References

External links