1. The shawl:
Even in the hottest parts of the planet you often need to keep warm, whether it’s because the temperature drops at night, or there’s harsh air-conditioning to contend with. A sarong is small enough to throw in a handbag.
2. The cover-up:
Whether you’re trying to surreptitiously feed your baby in public, or visiting a religious shrine that requires you to cover your head and shoulders, the sarong is an essential piece of kit.
3. The beach towel:
A sarong is quick drying, lightweight and doesn’t take up the space of a typical beach towel. So whether you’re just heading to the pool for a quick dip, or lounging around on the beach, the sarong has a part to play.
4. The first aider:
Break an arm or sprain a wrist and a sarong can double as a triangular bandage to immobilise the injury until you get to hospital. You can even use it as a stretcher.
5. For children:
The sarong is great for swaddling babies, wiping up spills or converting into a sling/carrier, play tent or sun cover.
6. Clothing:
There are hundreds of ways to wear a sarong in different styles. Wear it as a dress, skirt or a sash. You can even turn it into a bathing suit with a few clever folds, or wrap it around your head to keep the sun off.
7. Bag it:
Never be caught out with more than you can carry. Simply knot the two corners at the short end together, repeat at the other end and you have a hammock shoulder bag.
8. In the car:
When the sun gets too hot on the leather or vinyl seats, lay down a sarong. When parking your car, hang the sarong in the inside of the windscreen, using the sun visors, to help keep the car cool.
9. In public:
Travelling somewhere ‘exotic’ where toilets don’t have doors and stores don’t have changing rooms? Your sarong is the ideal way to get some makeshift privacy.
10. Out and about:
Throw it on a table as a stylish tablecloth or on the floor as a picnic blanket.
