What Is a Sarong?
A sarong is a large rectangle of lightweight fabric, worn wrapped around the waist and held in place with a knot. It is one of the simplest garments in the world: no buttons, no zippers, no sewing into a fixed shape. One piece of cloth, folded and tied, becomes a skirt, a dress, a shawl, a scarf, or a beach cover-up. A sarong fits every body because it is not cut to fit any one body, and it packs down to almost nothing.
At AllSarongs, our sarongs are handmade in Bali and we have been selling them since 2005. This guide explains what a sarong is, where it comes from, what it is made of, what size to choose, and how to tie, wear, and care for one. The links in each section take you to the full guide on that topic.
Where Does the Word Sarong Come From?
The word sarong comes from the Malay word sarung, meaning a sheath or covering. In Malay and Indonesian, a sarung is a tube of cloth sewn at the ends and worn around the lower body, a use that goes back centuries across Southeast Asia. English borrowed the word in the 1800s, and it came to mean the open rectangle of cloth we sell today: a flat piece of fabric you wrap and tie, rather than a sewn tube.
Across Southeast Asia, the sarong is everyday clothing, not just beachwear. In Malaysia and Indonesia, people wear sarongs at home, for prayer, for ceremonies, and for work in a warm climate. In Bali, where our sarongs are handmade, a sarong is part of daily life as well as temple dress: a temple visit usually calls for a sarong with a sash, and sarongs are worn for dances, weddings, and festivals.
The idea traveled. From Southeast Asia, the wrap spread across the Pacific Islands, where it picked up local names: lavalava in Hawaii, pareo in Tahiti, malong in the Philippines. Different names, same idea: a rectangle of cloth, wrapped around the body.
Sarong vs Pareo: Bali vs Tahiti
The closest cousin of the Balinese sarong is the Tahitian pareo, and shoppers often ask how the two differ. The short answer is size, fabric, and origin. A pareo is the Tahitian version of the wrap: traditionally a shorter, lighter rectangle of cotton, often printed with bright tropical flowers. A Balinese sarong is usually larger and is most often made of rayon, with hand-applied batik patterns rather than printed ones.
The two overlap a lot in how they are worn. Both can be a wrap skirt, a dress, a shawl, or a cover-up, and both are tied rather than sewn. The difference is mostly in the cloth: a pareo is lighter and shorter, while a sarong gives you more fabric to work with, which means more tying options and more coverage. For a full side-by-side comparison of size, fabric, pattern, and use, read Sarong vs Pareo: What’s the Difference?
What Is a Sarong Made Of?
Most AllSarongs sarongs are made of rayon. Rayon is soft, lightweight, and breathable, with a smooth drape that falls well when it is wrapped and knotted. It feels cool against the skin, dries quickly, and is wrinkle resistant, and it takes dye well, which is why batik colors are so rich.
Some of our designs are sheer polyester, including beaded styles. Sheer polyester is lighter and more see-through than rayon, made to be worn as a light layer over swimwear. If a design is sheer, the product description says so. We do not currently carry cotton or silk sarongs. For the full story on both fabrics, read our Sarong Material page.
Many of our sarongs are decorated with batik, the wax-resist dyeing craft of Indonesia. In batik, the maker draws a pattern in hot wax, dyes the cloth, and removes the wax to reveal the design. Because the work is done by hand, no two batik sarongs are exactly alike. To learn how batik is made and how to spot the real thing, read What Is Batik? Handmade in Bali.
Sarong Sizes: Regular, Plus, and Half
Our sarongs come in three sizes, and the size you choose decides how many ways you can wear it:
- Regular - 66" x 44": our most popular size, fits most adults as a wrap skirt, dress, or shawl.
- Plus - 84" x 44": extra length for a fuller wrap, taller wearers, or anyone who wants more overlap and coverage.
- Half - 66" x 22": a shorter sarong, ideal as a scarf, a short skirt, or a table runner.
If you are between sizes, size up. Extra fabric gives you more tying options, and a sarong is meant to drape, not fit tight. For full measurements, fitting tips, and how each size looks when worn, see our Sarong Sizes and Dimensions page.
How to Tie a Sarong
The basic wrap takes about ten seconds. Hold the sarong behind you at waist height, bring the two top corners around to the front, and tie them in a knot at your hip or at the center. That is the classic wrap skirt, and the starting point for almost every other style. Use a double knot, and make sure the fabric overlaps generously at the front so the knot has something to grip.
From that basic wrap, the styles branch out. Tie the corners behind your neck for a halter dress. Tie them across your chest for a strapless dress. Knot one corner over one shoulder for a one-shoulder look. Each style uses the same cloth and the same knot, just folded and tied in a different place. Our step-by-step guide, How to Tie a Sarong: 8 Ways, walks through eight styles with clear instructions, and a sarong tie or clip can hold the knot in place if you want extra security. See our Sarong Clips and Ties collection for those.
How to Wear a Sarong: Skirt, Dress, Shawl, and More
A sarong is not one outfit. The way you tie it changes what it is:
- Wrap skirt: the classic, tied at the hip or at the center, worn over swimwear or on its own. This is the style in the photos on this page.
- Dress: halter, strapless, one-shoulder, twist-front, or Grecian. With the right fold, a full-size sarong becomes a dress for the beach, a resort dinner, or an evening out.
- Shawl or scarf: folded lengthwise and draped over the shoulders, or worn around the neck. A Half size is ideal for this.
- Cover-up: worn loose over swimwear, tied at the side or left open at the front.
- Something else entirely: a sarong also works as a beach blanket, a picnic cloth, a table runner, or a wall hanging.
Our dress guide, How to Wear a Sarong as a Dress, shows five dress styles with step-by-step diagrams. Everybody can wear a sarong, and there is no men’s-specific range: our sarongs are unisex, and any design can be worn by anyone.
How to Care for a Sarong
A little gentleness keeps the colors bright and the fabric soft for years. Hand wash in cold water with a mild detergent, do not bleach, and do not wring or twist the fabric. Gently squeeze out the water instead, then line dry in the shade. Do not tumble dry. If you need to iron, use a low heat and iron inside out.
Rayon can shrink slightly if it is washed in hot water or tumble dried, which is why cold water and line drying matter. Dark or bright colors can release a little excess dye on the first wash or two, so wash a new sarong separately in cold water the first time. Our full guide, How to Care for a Rayon Batik Sarong, covers washing, drying, ironing, storing, and packing for travel.
How to Choose Your First Sarong
If you are buying your first sarong, keep it simple. Start with a Regular size in rayon, in a color or pattern you love. Regular fits most adults and gives you the full range of tying options. If you want more coverage or you are tall, choose Plus. If you mainly want a scarf or a short skirt, choose Half.
For pattern, batik is the classic choice: hand-dyed in Bali, with flowers, leaves, palms, turtles, and suns among the most popular motifs. Solid colors are the most versatile if you want one sarong to match several swimsuits.
Still have questions? Our Sarong FAQ answers the questions we hear most, and our Guides index lists every free guide we have written. When you are ready, browse the Batik Sarongs collection or shop all sarongs and find the one that feels like yours.
Updated November 2026 - AllSarongs, handmade Bali sarongs since 2005.