BANGKOK —
Pirumchai Asiram is tucked away in a huge Thai shopping mall's crowded clothing booth, sitting in a plastic chair with two worlds on both sides --
His bright, colorful shirt and skirt on the right, and a serious stack of black and white clothing on the left.
Ask him which one sells well, he will laugh.
He pointed to loud clothes and stressed, "it's not these . ".
"We sell these brighter things for foreigners.
Thais, since the death of the King, have stopped wearing this design.
"Take a walk at the bargain clothing booth in the center of MBK and you will hear a lot of that.
According to Orchid ee Narasri, the shops in Orchid clothing stores sell for up to 10,000 baht (more than $300)
A day in cheap black.
Sue Parker Thorpe, who sells blackand-
The white college uniform has become the first choice for everyone.
Buy: "When I go out to buy clothes now, I don't see anything but black and white.
"With the development of the MBK center clothing booth, the same is true in the Thai capital.
In recent weeks, this soft color of mourning has once again shrouded Bangkok as the country commemorates its beloved monarch, King Bhumibol adude, for a year and prepares for next week's national cremation ceremony. Walking once-colour-
The wet streets evoke moments of technology.
Oz's land was soaked in black and gray areas in Kansas.
"Fashion itself hasn't really changed, but the tone of the whole city has changed," says Kotchamon Arsa, the owner of a store called "Southern Star" in Bangkok, with hundreds of blue jeans.
People are still buying jeans, she reports, but like dark jeans with black shirts.
"People still love fashion," she said . "
"We just used a more appropriate tone.
To understand what happened this month, let's go back to October.
The King, also known as Rama IX, died on 2016 at the age of 88.
The country immediately entered the mourning period and mourned in a very obvious way on the streets of Bangkok.
A few days later, the palette of the whole city changed. Black-and-
White flags hung on the wall.
Color discharged from public places
Face the screen, from ATMs to e-billboards to commutersrail signs.
Google Thailand has replaced its vibrant home page with black and gray people.
The most important thing, however, is that clothing is changing
Same for men and women.
A typical city, full of colorful commuters and pedestrians, makes people feel more melancholy.
Not everyone is wearing black clothes.
Even though some people don't find themselves whips casti.
But it is the dominant color with white.
A dyeing station appeared around the town, and people could turn loud clothes into softer ones. The pro-
Sovereign state government encourages fabric manufacturers to increase production of black textiles and warns against price cutsgouging.
It is expected that the head of the office will wear black clothes;
Where white shirts are expected, the black armband made the same statement.
No one was wearing black before (
Although the tropical climate of the capital affects these decisions);
This turn turned into a statement, a discussion, a symbol of respect.
Yes, people really like Rama IX, but no one wants to be seen as disrespectful at the same time.
In the months between the king's death and the present, a year later, the color quietly returned to the city, although observations over time showed that it had never returned completely.
For example, on the most recent morning, when a door was opened on the busy BTS light rail in Bangkok to get commuters off the bus, 18 out of 20 people were wearing a variety of black clothes. (
One notable exception: Buddhist monks still wearing saffron robes. )
However, since the beginning of the month, softer colors have returned with a stronger momentum.
A leaflet depicting 25 pastel shades is circulating --
From light brown to dark green and of course black
This is considered appropriate this month.
However, black people dominate despite official flexibility.
It is difficult not to doubt whether the change will continue after October. 26 cremation —
Especially since many less affluent people may not have the money to bring back a more colorful wardrobe.
Officials say the government has approved the restoration of the previous style.
"After the mourning period is over, people can return to their colored clothes in whatever they wear before October.
"Last year," said thongchandchandchandrangsu, a Royal traditional expert and member of the funeral organizing committee.
"We must understand that this is also part of tradition.
However, a fashionable Thai woman in her 20 s, who has been abroad for a long time, does not want earth-shaking changes.
"Unless the fashion trend is --
Black, I think unless people continue to wear monochrome (were)
"It was put on before mourning," she said . ".
"Fashion in Thailand is mainly influenced by South Korea and Japan.
If they start wearing black clothes, you will see more and more people wearing black clothes.
"But there may be an extra dimension to all this --
Go beyond the political dimension of pure agreement.
Paul Chambers, lecturer at the Association of Southeast Asian community Studies Institute at Naresuan University, noted that as Thais are geographically closer to Kings, the concentration of black clothing has increased
More in the area close to Bangkok, more in the capital itself, and more in the part of the city around the palace.
Chambers suspected that black saturation in Bangkok could continue after the cremation.
For the feelings of the late Rama IX and the consideration of his son, the new King Rama X.
"I wouldn't be surprised if power wanted people to wear black clothes, maybe next year, maybe a few more years, just to show the connection, Chambers said: "The transition between this king and the next king. ".
"Of course, this engine drives the worship of traditional institutions.
Although many people are looking forward to the return of colorful Bangkok, the costumes --
Stall owner, look different.
"I think black people will stay," he said . ".
"People like Kings very much.
Even after the funeral, I think the city will still look sad. ”——
Ted Anthony is an Asian director.
Pacific News from The Associated Press.