Flip-flops are not exclusive to Southeast Asians. Many people in other Asian countries such as China and Japan also love to wear them. Even in Europe and the United States, where people dress more conservatively, flip-flops are gradually being accepted. However, there is probably no other place like Southeast Asians who wear flip-flops as a “standard” in daily life, or even “wear” them into traditional clothing.
Myanmar: Government officials wear flip-flops at meetings
People in Southeast Asian countries love to wear flip-flops, but if you have to choose a “favorite”, the Burmese should be able to win easily. Myanmar is a country where men and women, regardless of the occasion, all wear flip-flops. In this regard, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and other countries that are still used to wearing leather shoes in formal occasions are still “gap” with Myanmar.
If you often watch Myanmar news, you should find that the politicians on TV sit upright and hold meetings to discuss national affairs with a serious look, but when you look down at their feet, everyone is wearing “flip-flops”. This is not because the officials are casual and lax, but because in Myanmar, flip-flops are not only a necessity of life, but also quite formal and can be worn in formal occasions. It is worth mentioning that in formal occasions, Burmese people will wear a pair of socks inside flip-flops to show their respect.
Aung San Suu Kyi, known as the “Soul of Myanmar” and “Symbol of Democracy”, once participated in the anniversary event commemorating the assassination of her father, General Aung San, the hero of Burmese independence. Aung San Suu Kyi wore a plain white top, a black Burmese sarong, a black scarf, and flip-flops that day, and respectfully laid flowers in front of her father’s tomb. The “National League for Democracy” dignitaries and government officials who accompanied her to worship on the same day also wore flip-flops like Aung San Suu Kyi.
When China Communications Construction, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, just came to Myanmar to invest and build a factory, the Chinese staff were very puzzled as to why the Burmese workers came to the construction site to work wearing flip-flops instead of the labor protection shoes uniformly distributed by the unit. Habits are not formed in one day. After the Chinese staff patiently explained again and again, the Burmese employees gradually accepted the labor protection shoes that are more suitable for the construction site.
Some scholars believe that the Burmese people’s “love” for flip-flops is related to their devout religious beliefs. Burmese people believe in Buddhism, and they will go to the Buddhist temple to worship Buddha and meditate when they have time. In the hearts of the Burmese people, monks and Buddha statues are holy and cannot be touched, and shoes are dirty, so they cannot stain the ground of the Buddhist temple. This is a respect for the Buddha. Therefore, Burmese people must take off their shoes and socks when entering the Buddhist temple. In this case, flip-flops that are easy to put on and take off are very convenient.
Indonesia: Flip-flops become a cultural business card
Although they do not wear flip-flops on formal occasions like the Burmese, in fact, Indonesians’ love for flip-flops is also unambiguous. Indonesia is located on the equator and is also a “country of ten thousand islands”. Compared with other Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia’s climate is hotter and more humid. They like to wear flip-flops more because of the climate. An Indonesian friend told the reporter that many Indonesian rural people’s feet will rot after a long time if they wear leather shoes and sports shoes like Chinese people. They are more accustomed to wearing flip-flops or going barefoot. In Indonesian cities, even in the capital Jakarta, the largest city in Southeast Asia, there are still people walking barefoot.
Indonesia’s traffic control is not strict, and it is allowed to drive in flip-flops. Therefore, many Indonesians go to work or attend formal occasions. Generally, they drive in flip-flops and change into leather shoes when they arrive at the destination. Some people simply keep a pair of flip-flops in the car.
Gradually, flip-flops have become a cultural business card of Indonesia, and even become a part of traditional clothing. In the past, wearing flip-flops for Indonesians may be due to poverty or casual personality. Most of them wear low-quality flip-flops that cost about 10 yuan a pair.
Now, when flip-flops have become a part of Indonesian culture, Indonesians pay more and more attention to the style and quality of flip-flops, and even package flip-flops as a trendy brand. In all the major shopping malls in Jakarta, you can see all kinds of colorful flip-flops everywhere. The price range is also very wide, from the cheapest few yuan to the most expensive thousands of yuan. It can be said that it is up to you to choose a pair of flip-flops that suits you, regardless of your class.
Singapore: “Slippers Party” attracts attention
Although Singapore is also an out-and-out Southeast Asian country, with the halo of “the only developed country in Southeast Asia”, Singapore, which has always been “high-end”, seems to be difficult to associate with the flip-flops of “low-class people”. But in fact, Singaporeans are also loyal fans of flip-flops, and they are not even inferior to other countries, because they have “elevated” wearing flip-flops to a lifestyle.
It is worth mentioning that Singapore, with a large number of Chinese people, is greatly influenced by Hong Kong and Taiwan, and flip-flops are more often called flip-flops. Walking on the streets of Singapore, if you see a handsome guy wearing a windbreaker and sunglasses, but he is wearing flip-flops, please don’t be surprised, that is the normal dress of a fashionable guy in Singapore. Singaporean girls also love colorful flip-flops. Girls who love beauty will scrub their feet and trim their toenails before going out to ensure that their feet are in the best condition, so as to show their most beautiful flip-flops.
Singapore is known for its strict laws and rules. Wearing flip-flops is prohibited in university libraries. However, many young men and women in Singapore still enter in flip-flops. Over time, the administrators turned a blind eye.
In the 2006 Singapore general election, a small opposition party attracted a lot of attention. The candidates of this party all wore slippers to campaign, so they were also called the “Slipper Party” by the media. The “Slipper Party” claimed that slippers symbolize no packaging and simplicity. They wore slippers to campaign in the hope of expressing their dissatisfaction with the packaging behavior of the ruling party in domestic and foreign affairs.
Although the “Slipper Party” failed to stir up waves in the political arena, its appearance seems to show from another perspective that slippers in Singapore are not only convenient and beautiful clothing, but also the attitude of life of some people.
Post time: Mar-25-2025
