Pangden: Traditional Apron worn by Tibetan/Sherpa Women
July 03, 2022
The "pangden" is the apron worn by many Tibetan and Ethnic Tibetan women on the front of their dress. They also wear similar, colorfully striped aprons around their waists and backside.
It is a colorful apron made of faconne woollen fabric, which is popular among Tibetan/Sherpa women. Pangden is made from the same materials as pulu (the material used to make Tibetan robes), but it is thinner, more delicate, and smaller. The pangden' fabric is also used to make waistcoats, aprons, and satchels for women, as well as to mount it on their robes. It is even used to decorate the walls of modern parlors.
In Tibetan, the best pangden is known as'shema' . It is usually oriented from 14-20 different types of dyed yarn. Pulu, which is relatively common in the community, is the second best apron variety. There are also "nambhu" and "sishen" pangdhen. The fabric is soft and delicate, and the color is vibrant, making the apron both beautiful and eye-catching.
In past, the woman's apron functions as so many different things in the home and field work. The pangdens provide warmth, a ready cloth for picking up hot pans from the fire or wiping clean her baby's face, as well as a place to secure items like her sewing needle or flint.
The reason for wearing it is again very varied: some say it is worn by married women to symbolise their marriage and others say that it is worn at a certain age to signify entering adulthood. Nonetheless, the practice of wearing pangden is not prevalent in the Amdo and Kham regions of Tibet.