Krama
| Krama | |
|---|---|
| Khmer name | ក្រមា |
| Also known as | Cambodian scarf; Cambodian traditional textile |
| Practice type | Craft practice |
| Usual occasion | Everyday and special occasions |
| Subjects | Crafts & Material Culture |
Krama is a craft tradition practised in Cambodia and Khmer communities. (Wikipedia)
Practice
Krama is a sturdy woven Cambodian textile, usually made of cotton or silk and often featuring a gingham pattern in red, blue, or other colors. It is worn or used by men, women, and children as a scarf, bandanna, face covering, belt, blanket, lower garment, decorative cloth, or hammock for children; it may also be wrapped around the waist, head, or fists in Bokator. Kramas can wrap ritual offerings and express greetings, respect, and important transitions from birth through death. (Wikipedia; Kramakrama)
History
The supplied text traces possible krama-related forms to the Pre-Angkor Norkor Phnom period, between the first and fifth centuries CE, and notes textile production in Angkor Thom in records from 1296–1297. It also says that late-nineteenth-century photographs document Cambodian clothing including krama-like coverings. Red-and-white gingham kramas were worn by many Khmer Rouge fighters, giving some Cambodians a reason to prefer blue-and-white or other colors. (Wikipedia; Kramakrama)
Variations
Kramas vary in material, color, pattern, size, and use. Typical examples use gingham, traditionally often red or blue, while contemporary handmade scarves may combine traditional motifs with modern colors and designs. (Wikipedia; Kramakrama)
Communities and practitioners
Local communities, primarily women, prepare yarn, dye, and weave krama, while men participate in planting cotton and sourcing natural dyes. Women pass weaving knowledge to younger generations, and the supplied text identifies 15 active communities and associations where skilled weavers continue the tradition. (Wikipedia; Kramakrama)