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Hnyat-phanat (, ) is a Burmese traditional
Hnyat-phanat (, ) is a Burmese traditional sandal
Sandals are an open type of footwear, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by straps going over the instep and around the ankle. Sandals can also have a heel. While the distinction between sandals and other types of footwear can some ...
, similar to flip-flops
Flip-flops are a type of light sandal, typically worn as a form of casual footwear. They consist of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap known as a toe thong that passes between the first and second toes and around both side ...
. Although it refers to almost any sandal worn by the people of Myanmar
Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
, it is mostly used to refer to the traditional Mandalay velvet
Weave details visible on a purple-colored velvet fabric
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed, with a short pile, giving it a distinctive soft feel. By extension, the word ''velvety'' means ...
slippers that originate in Upper Burma (Myanmar).
Hnyat-phanat literally means 'clip footwear', since the slipper is held in place by the clipping of the big and second toe.
Design and style
The slipper is very simple and is worn by almost everybody in Myanmar. It consists of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap that passes between the first (big) and second toes and around either side of the foot. The main distinguishing feature of Burmese traditional sandals is the material. The flat sole is plain with no patterns or designs. It is either coated with fine soft lacquer or velvet ( ''gadiba''), and the same goes for the Y strap. Lacquered slippers are usually either brown or black, while velvet slippers can come in a variety of colors. Velvet sandals are traditionally worn at formal occasions like weddings. Hnyat-phanat do not have any grip or friction on the lower side of the sole, and are thus not suitable for use in wet conditions.See also
*Longyi
A longyi (; ) is a sheet of cloth widely worn in Burma (Myanmar). It is approximately long and wide. The cloth is often sewn into a cylindrical shape. It is worn around the waist, running to the feet, and held in place by folding fabric over wi ...
, a Burmese garment
References