Kramanation WEAR KRAMA CAMPAIGN

Cambodian-American model/actress/entrepreneur/nurse/rights activist iKandy Land brings sex appeal to the wearing of krama (photographer: Michael Siu, make-up artist: Maria Broussard; 21 Aug. 2010). "I’m not in the business of modeling, just because I think I’m pretty. I have future aspirations of becoming more than just a model, but a role model, a leader and an entrepreneur. I’m here to inspire those with hardships to conquer all that life throws at them, and to fulfill their dreams. You have to push yourself to the limits, and for me, there are no limits to success!" -iKandy

Lead singer of band Dengue Fever touring with her kramas (Hong Kong, Norway, 2010)

The Cambodian Ray Charles, Mr. Kong Nai very cool in his krama (Photo: Dan Schwarzlose for Cambodian Living Arts, Aug. 2010)

CHAN Sopheak in Germany this April 2010 during Study Tour for Cambodian provincial government officials of German Regional Management approaches (his Khmer colleagues from Sotre Nikum, left; deputy district goveror from Banteay Meanchey, right - with 2 German ladies also enjoying wearing their kramas).

Need we say more? The krama is the way to go... (photo: internet)

Kunthea Seng from California in her favorite krama visiting her family in Cambodia, 2010

ECCC Senior Assistant Prosecutor Anees Ahmed of India via London prosecutes genocide killers in it; here at public forum of the Center for Social Development under leadership of Theary Seng, in Takeo on 1 Aug. 2008.

The happy KI Media family in Kramanation
(Credit: Sacravatoon of Mr. UNG Bun Heang)

Little genius Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt and Brad Pitt don their Khmer kramas (Photos: internet)

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"For Cambodians of my generation and older (and maybe younger also?) who grew up having a krama around us everywhere we go (from waking up till going back to sleep), kramas are a necessity in our life. Then things changed sometimes between 1970 and 1975 (maybe closer to 1975), suddenly, kramas were used as a symbol of the resistance against the US by the KR, especially the red-colored kramas. With the advent of the KR between 1975-79, we tend to identify the red kramas with the KR soldiers. Some of my relatives, especially along the western areas of Cambodia, never talked about the KR at all; they rather called them "puok ah khmao" - the black-clad people with their krama, of course. To this day, I still cannot dissociate the KR hardship/suffering/tragedy from the krama symbol they used. Hopefully, this happens only to me. I find it really strange that something I used to cherish in my childhood turned out to be something I ended up distancing myself from later in life." -- Anonymous

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Theary Seng somewhere on the Cambodian road in 2008... the krama also goes well with bright yellow Gap rain boots

Southeast Asia Correspondent Luke Hunt proudly wearing his krama at the 65th Commemoration of Victory over Japan Day, near Sandakan (Borneo, 15 Aug. 2010)

Proud to be Khmer. Jimmy Srun in his krama on the top of the world (Preah Vihear, Aug. 2008)

Photographer John Vink on the other side of the lens donning the krama (purchased in Cambodia in 1989) in Peshawar, Pakistan circa 1990, photo taken by street photographer.

Boran Tum of Washington, DC is chairman of Cambodian Community Day, here at the Cultural Day celebration in Alexandria, VA, 2009.

James Turpin of UNOHCHR based in NYC defends human rights in krama-style, here at Barcelona (December 2009)

The breezily beautiful British Sophea Omnou of Virgin Media in her silk kramas (of Wallington of Surrey, south of London, UK, Aug. 2010). Read her moving, eloquent tribute to her parents and all her 7 siblings who perished during the KR years.

Artist/poet Chath pier Sath in Siem Reap (above) and at his solo exhibition at the French Cultural Center (below with Agnes, Jan. 2010)

The beautiful author/activist Loung Ung sashaying her silk kramas (above with Senator Patrick Leahy).

Interim director of the Center for Justice & Reconciliation and Advocacy/Outreach Manager SOK Leang at a Human Rights Panel in Brussels sponsored by the European Union, June 2010.

Judith Haugwitz, speechwriter to Germany Federal Minister of Health, very cool and natural in her krama, taking baby Karl for a walk in their neighborhood in Berlin, 2010.

Cambodian Living Arts festival at Chaktomuk Theatre... young people in their colorful kramas, Aug. 2010.

Rotary Peace Fellows at Chulalongkorn University, a lawyer from Michigan Nancy Wonch (above) and Rosemaria Carlozzi of Italy, wrapped in their kramas with Theary Seng after an engaging afternoon at CIVICUS: Center for Cambodian Civic Education / Center for Justice & Reconciliation (Phnom Penh, 6 Sept. 2010)

Andy Brouwer, product manager of Hanuman Tourism, has many kramas and style choices.

Master musician Eang Sithul suavely wrapped in a colorful silk krama with soprana Amara, Marc de la Cruz, Vuth Chanmoly (Phnom Penh, 2010. Photo: Amara Chhin Lawrence).

Very cool ! Kym Thach proudly, suavely parties in it - New Year's Eve, 2009, Washington, DC.

Arn Chorn Pond and Cambodian Masters in their colorful kramas, Cambodian Living Arts (Photo: Daniel Rotherberg, 2009)

CARE billboard at Newark International Airport (NYC) snapped by Theary Seng as she was running to catch a flight home - June 2010 - a Khmer woman in iconic krama.

All wrapped up in a krama (Photo: Cambodian Living Arts, 2010)

Posted in: Theary Seng