Thailand Uniforms-A Thai Obsession

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Mike

Thai women in local government officers uniform

Anyone who visits or lives in Thailand cannot fail to notice the amount of people who wear a uniform. It seems to be a Thai obsession with everyone getting in on the act. Whether its school children, university students or government officials everyone seems to have a uniform tucked away in their closet. School children also have a second uniform since they all take part in scouting activities as part of the school curriculum.

Both girls and boys are cub scouts in Thailand this is their uniform

Given that in the West uniformity and the wearing of uniforms is generally seem as an occasional necessary evil to be tolerated but not embraced,  why is it I wonder that many Thais seem to embrace the idea?

To answer this question it is perhaps appropriate to reflect on why people wear uniforms. Group and individual identity immediately springs to mind as well as the need for a functional working dress. These particular reasons would seem to fit for groups like military forces, police and paramedic services along with other public services like the fire department.

A male Thai polioce officer in uniform

In Thailand you will find all the above groups wearing distinctive uniforms that do indeed identify the wearers to that specific organisation. But what about the other uniform wearers like local government officers, school teachers and Thai government ministers, why do they feel the need to wear a uniform?

One theory might be that wearing a uniform shows other people your status, your rank in society if you like, since Thais are in the main very conscious of their own and others social status. It might also be argued that this adds some sort of order to society with people knowing exactly where they stand. Of course in a free thinking society that is able to express its views publicly without fear of repression the opposite could probably be argued.

Most Thai uniforms that I have seen seem to be modelled on uniforms worn by US servicemen and women although some of the Thai army ceremonial uniforms have a distinct look that suggests they could have come from the UK(ceremonial guards).

In my opinion Thai uniforms are mostly fashionable,  but quite why uniform shirts are tailored so narrow in some cases,  like the police,  I’m not sure, since quite often they are hardly flattering. Of course the tight fitting uniforms worn by other groups of Thais can have some advantages although not necessarily for the wearer. Try walking by a Thai university at closing time and I am sure you will see what I mean.

So over to you, what do you think about uniforms in Thailand and do you think its just a harmless Thai obsession or is there perhaps some deeper cultural message, like I suggested above, being transmitted by the wearer?

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  • http://paulgarrigan.com/ Paulgarrigan

    When I used to teach here there would be a different uniform that we had to wear each day of the week. On holidays we had to remember to wear white. My least favourite was the suit we wore on Mondays. Wednesdays were good becasue we got to wear sports gear.

  • http://thaiconnoisseur.blogspot.com Peter M

    I think there is some merit in your theory as certainly Thailand is a very hierarchical society, but I think the greater reason is that the uniforms fit in well with the idea of belonging to the group. Thais are brought up with the idea that the group is more important than the individual.

    For those of us that like to see ladies in uniform Thailand is certainly paradise!

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    Peter thanks for the input, interesting about the group being more important than the individual. Guess it depends which individual you are if you get my drift.

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    Paul to some extent that sounds like the kids. Doy has a sports uniform one day and scouts on another. Can't imagine working in a suit out here given that most schools don't have air-con.

  • http://paulgarrigan.com/ Paulgarrigan

    It was a Thai suit with the arms arms cut off; horrible material though.

  • http://missus-emm.blogspot.com/ Emm

    Wow. I wouldn't have worn a uniform to university for love or money. Although, I am sure my Doctor Martens boots and black eyeliner could have counted as a uniform of sorts. I, for one, like uniforms. We used to wear uniform in the bank and it was just such a pleasure to wear your very own clothes at the end of all of that.

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    The Thai university students “uniform” is actually black and white, the students do personalise this, especially the girls :-)

  • http://everyday-adventurer.blogspot.com/ Ratty

    Since I've only ever been outside of my own country twice, I'm not sure what would motivate a person from Thailand. But I do have a theory. Here in the US wearing anything like a uniform is the same as you say it is for the rest of western civilization. But there is something that is done. People here like to wear the uniform shirts of their favorite sports teams. Most people also like to wear the logos of major brand names on any piece of clothing where it might fit. I'm not one of the latter. But it all does make them feel like they belong to something they like, even if it's just a silent broadcast that they are wearing a certain fashionable brand. I think all people want to have the feeling that they belong in some way, and they want others to know as well. Maybe in Thailand and the West it's not so different, just different fashion influences.

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    Ratty you make some very valid points here, I like the sport shirt comparison. Most teenagers even adults would say they do not like uniforms back home but they are happy to wear their football strip to the matches. As you say its about identity. I guess here its the wearing of official uniforms that is a bit unusual.

  • http://thailandlandofsmiles.com Talen

    Mike you have made me completely useless now as I can only think of young university students and their uniforms :)

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    It does conjure up some interesting images.

  • http://boonsongsomboontp.blogspot.com/ Boonsong

    Uniforms also serve as an equalliser – ie the richest and the poorest all wear the same (although in practice they're still separated by quality) – and as a way of suppressing individuality.
    I like uniforms – sometimes the tighter the better…. Let's not go there.

    Have a nice day, Boonsong

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    Boonsong couldn't agree more, but in Thai society they do seem to feature strongly compared to the UK for instance.

  • http://ricks-eastasiablog.typepad.com/ricks_east_asia_blog/2010/07/thai-colours-and-smiles-break-out-in-toronto.html SiamRick

    I like uniforms for, just off the top of my head, university girls. I've also seen some pretty smart looking military uniforms on, oh, I don't know, young women. Beats the ragtag mess of clothes worn by Canadians in all walks of life, except may be bank employees. But their problem, the latter, is that they have no taste. So bring on the uniforms.

    On second thought, considering the baggy tailoring that would have to be imposed for the, uh, varied body shapes, a uniform simply wouldn't help matters here at home. Hmm, I think I just fired up my desires to go to Thailand. Since I can't right this minute, I'll just have to open my iPhone and look at my accumulated photos. Ahh, that's better . . .

  • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

    Rick, there seem to be a lot of positives about females in uniform. I wonder why. What about back home, do Canadian girls wash up nicely, despite the clothes?

    To be honest having worn a uniform for most of my working life I was glad to leave it behind although in my younger days it was a bit of a chick magnet :-)

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