According to archeologist Bako Rasoarifetra, « lambahoany » (pronounced lamba one) comes from the Malagasy word “lamba” (= fabric) and the English word “one”. In the middle of the nineteenth century, Madagascar imported cotton fabric that was seen as the best, the number one quality. At the time, Britain produced half of the world’s cotton cloth.
Lambahoany ihas since been part of the Malagasy’s everyday life, especially in the coastal regions. It has multiple usages: it can be a pareo that men and women wear as it can be a tablecloth during a picnic…. It is quickly recognizable with its photos and vivid colors. Most of the time, it carries a message of wisdom or wishes.