The Black Thread: The Khmer Rouge and the Annihilation of Cambodian Fashion

The Black Thread: The Khmer Rouge and the Annihilation of Cambodian Fashion

Chapter One: The Fading of the Silks: The Violent Suppression of Traditional Dress The Khmer Rouge revolution of 1975 was a declaration of war on history itself. The regime's fanatical "Year Zero" ideology demanded the complete and utter annihilation of the past, and one of the first and most visible battlegrounds in this war was the clothing of the Cambodian people. Traditional Khmer dress, with its vibrant colors, its magnificent, patterned silks, and its subtle language of social status, represented everything that Angkar, the ruling organization, sought to destroy: history, artistry, religion, and individuality. The violent suppression of this rich sartorial heritage was a crucial first step in the regime's plan to dismantle Cambodian society and remake it into a homogenous, anonymous mass. An Assault on Color and Individuality From the moment their black-clad soldiers marched into Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge began their assault on personal express…