Why do Thai people wear so many clothes ?

[docmartin]

Apart from the girls on Bangla Road wearing dental floss and bandaids that is ...

Here in central Isaan it’s as hot as Hades and humid too yet I see people rugged up for an icy wind - cardigans, jackets, hoodies and so on.

I kind of understand why guys wear long pants - because only little boys and low status peasants wear shorts - but to me it’s completely illogical and on my home planet Vulcan we wouldn’t dream of dressing inappropriately for the conditions.

On building sites guys in balaclavas look as look like they’re going to rob a bank after work and their heads must be cooking.

Why is this ? Are they wanting to be as white as Michael Jackson or are there some other reasons ?

[aging one]

because only little boys and low status peasants wear shorts

To me, why do you think that is a much better question than your thread title.

[nidhogg]

Why is this ? Are they wanting to be as white as Michael Jackson or are there some other reasons ?

Yup. That's pretty much it. Maybe not so much as white as an adult Jackson, but more a desire not to be as black as a juvenile Jackson.

[Neverna]

On building sites guys in balaclavas look as look like they’re going to rob a bank after work and their heads must be cooking.
Why is this ? Are they wanting to be as white as Michael Jackson or are there some other reasons ?

Keeping the sun from their skin. People who work in the fields usually do the same.

[Klondyke]

You can see that almost all skin creams, lotions, soaps, etc are added with "white" (whitening effect). A good sale point...

[Airportwo]

Why is this ? Are they wanting to be as white as Michael Jackson or are there some other reasons ?

For years I wondered why also. The reason is quite simple it is cooler and you have protection from the sun.
Hopefully someone can explain better than I ? -
Is it hotter standing in the shade or direct sun - shade cooler - so shade the body which then allows it to get rid of heat more effectively as it keeps the body cooler - basically.
I now wear long pants and long shirt when it is hot in the garden, protects from the sun - which is brutal here, look at people that work in the fields all day, they look 20 years older than they are, also gives protection from wildlife, snakes, bugs, mossies etc.
The hottest day this summer was a "feel like" temp of 53c up here in Isaan, the body is ~37c, not going to cool of very well when it is hotter than core.
"The best color to keep cool in the heat, it turns out, is to wear black. Black absorbs everything coming in from the sun, sure. But black also absorbs energy from the body instead of reflecting it back. Now, the helpfulness of black clothes depends on finding black clothes that are the same thickness and looseness as those summery white clothes. Black clothing also needs a little help from atmospheric conditions. Once it has absorbed heat, it has to have some way to radiate it away. If there's even a little wind, black clothing is the better choice for those who want to keep cool,"

[docmartin]

Yes I’ve noticed that.
So if one could invent a cream that made them look like ghosts you’d be a trillionaire overnight.

[Norton]

The reason is quite simple it is cooler and you have protection from the sun

Is indeed. Not just Thailand. Traditional clothing in all hot spots world wide.



You want to stay cool, cover up or stay indoors.

Btw are you a Brit.

[AntRobertson]

That whole sun / tan thing, a few Thai women I know are going the other way and embracing it. Making a point out of sun-bathing and getting a tan.

Which is great and all but for the fact it's damaging their skin but try telling them that.

[docmartin]

Is indeed. Not just Thailand. Traditional clothing in all hot spots world wide.



You want to stay cool, cover up or stay indoors.

Btw are you a Brit.

I get the covering as a protection from radiant heat but the gentleman in the picture is wearing black - wouldn’t white be better ? (assuming his tailor offers a choice)

If the temperature is over body core temperature and it’s very humid you can’t sweat to cool down either.

[Luigi]

You can see that almost all skin creams, lotions, soaps, etc are added with "white" (whitening effect). A good sale point...

Mr. 'Snail White' products, a bloke from Ubon iirc, is a baht billionaire off the back of it.


Perhaps.

Maybe.

Think I read it somewhere.

[Airportwo]

I get the covering as a protection from radiant heat but the gentleman in the picture is wearing black - wouldn’t white be better ? (assuming his tailor offers a choice)

Why don't you try reading the replies? #6 ?

[Neverna]

Mr. 'Snail White' products, a bloke from Ubon iirc, is a baht billionaire off the back of it.

And don't forget Dickie1983 and his skin whitening magic potions.

[NamPikToot]

Calamine lotion

[docmartin]

Why don't you try reading the replies? #6 ?

Why not try touching a black car and a white car left out in the sun ?

[thaiguzzi]

Yep,
Posts 6 & 8 have got it covered, (excuse the pun).
I used to work in the garden and the farm just in swimmies and flip flops and the locals just looked at me as if i was a stupid weirdo.
They were correct.
When in Rome and all that...

[docmartin]

So you’ve stepped up to wearing a balaclava ?

I lived in North Queensland for ten years and the outdoor rig was shorts, shirt-sleeved shirt and a hat. Some wore long sleeves and trousers but lightweight and only one layer.

[Airportwo]

Originally Posted by Airportwo
Why don't you try reading the replies? #6 ?
Why not try touching a black car and a white car left out in the sun ?

Because I have read post # 6 ?

[Latindancer]

" But black also absorbs energy from the body instead of reflecting it back. Black clothing also needs a little help from atmospheric conditions. Once it has absorbed heat, it has to have some way to radiate it away. If there's even a little wind, black clothing is the better choice for those who want to keep cool,"

Yes, I have seen Berbers wearing black.

But if the above quote is true, why not wear two thin layers ? The outer one white, and the inner one black ?

[Airportwo]

But if the above quote is true, why not wear two thin layers ? The outer one white, and the inner one black ?

You've just cracked the mystery of "white" underwear!

[docmartin]

Emissivity of black and white clothing is pretty much the same.
That is, black does not radiate more heat than white.
But it certainly absorbs more radiant heat. Not much difference in heat transfer by convection or conduction though.

[Klondyke]

In the past, when in Asia, we can see always in white - the people who could have afforded it. Now, especially in Thailand, the people who can afford any wear, they prefer black business suit, also black cars, it gives them a feeling of somebody VIP.

[tweedle dee]

Better than wearing Doc martins ey !

[Mozzbie47]

For years I wondered why also. The reason is quite simple it is cooler and you have protection from the sun.
Hopefully someone can explain better than I ? -
Is it hotter standing in the shade or direct sun - shade cooler - so shade the body which then allows it to get rid of heat more effectively as it keeps the body cooler - basically.
I now wear long pants and long shirt when it is hot in the garden, protects from the sun - which is brutal here, look at people that work in the fields all day, they look 20 years older than they are, also gives protection from wildlife, snakes, bugs, mossies etc.
The hottest day this summer was a "feel like" temp of 53c up here in Isaan, the body is ~37c, not going to cool of very well when it is hotter than core.
"The best color to keep cool in the heat, it turns out, is to wear black. Black absorbs everything coming in from the sun, sure. But black also absorbs energy from the body instead of reflecting it back. Now, the helpfulness of black clothes depends on finding black clothes that are the same thickness and looseness as those summery white clothes. Black clothing also needs a little help from atmospheric conditions. Once it has absorbed heat, it has to have some way to radiate it away. If there's even a little wind, black clothing is the better choice for those who want to keep cool,"

Correct, I have covered up to work out in the hot sun in Thailand, covering up is cooler.

[docmartin]

Yes, but balaclavas ???
Why not slip into a parka and muffs too ?