Folk costume
Folk costume
A folk costume (also regional costume, national costume, or traditional garment) expresses an identity through costume, which is usually associated with a geographic area or a period of time in history. It can also indicate social, marital or religious status. If the costume is used to represent the culture or identity of a specific ethnic group, it is usually known as ethnic costume (also ethnic dress, ethnic wear, ethnic clothing, traditional ethnic wear or traditional ethnic garment). Such costumes often come in two forms: one for everyday occasions, the other for traditional festivals and formal wear.
Following the outbreak of romantic nationalism, the peasantry of Europe came to serve as models for all that appeared genuine and desirable. Their dress crystallised into so-called "typical" forms, and enthusiasts adopted that attire as part of their symbolism.
In areas where Western dress codes have become usual, traditional garments are often worn at special events or celebrations; particularly those connected with cultural traditions, heritage or pride. International events may cater for non-Western attendees with a compound dress code such as "business suit or national dress".
In modern times, there are instances where traditional garments are required by sumptuary laws. In Bhutan, the traditional Tibetan-style clothing of gho and kera for men, and kira and toego for women, must be worn by all citizens, including those not of Tibetan heritage. In Saudi Arabia, women are also required to wear the abaya in public.
Africa
Central Africa
Cameroon – Pagne (female), Toghu (male)
Central African Republic – Pagne
Democratic Republic of the Congo – Pagne
Equatorial Guinea – Pano
Gabon – Pagne
Republic of the Congo – Pagne
São Tomé and Príncipe – Pano
Eastern Africa
Burundi – Imvutano
Comoros – Lesso (female), Kanzu (male)
Djibouti – Macawiis (male), Koofiyad (male), Dirac (female), Garbasaar (female)
Eritrea – Kidan Habesha (male), Zuria or Habesha kemis (female)
Ethiopia – Ethiopian suit or Kidan Habesha (male), Habesha kemis (female)
Kenya – Kenya is unique among African nations in that it is the only country that does not have a national costume. All tribes have their respective traditional garments, for example: Maasai traditional costume: Kitenge, Kikoi, Maasai beadwork
Madagascar – Lamba
Mauritius – Sega dress
Rwanda – Mushanana
Seychelles – Sega dress
Somalia – Macawiis (male), Koofiyad (male), Dirac (female), Guntiino (female), Garbasaar (female)
Sudan – Jalabiyyah, Taqiyyah, and Turban (male), Toob, a cotton women's dress (female)
Tanzania – Kanzu and Kofia (male), Kanga (female)
Uganda – Kanzu and Kofia (male), Gomesi (female)
Northern Africa
Algeria - Burnous, Caftan, Caftan El-Bey, Gandoura, Haïek, Jellaba, Mlaya, Sarouel Bikhmar (Ouargla) Blouza (Oran) Chemsa (Jijel) Fergani (Constantine) Gandoura Annabiya (Annaba) Ghlila, Karakou, Sarouel Mdawer (Algiers) Labsa M'zabia (M'zab) Labsa Naïlia (Ouled Naïl) Lefa we dlala (Annaba) Melhfa Chaouïa (Aures) Melhfa Sahraouia (Tindouf) Qashabiya (Djelfa et Laghouat), Labsa Kbaylia (Kabylie) Sétif – Binouar Labsa Touratia (Hoggar)
Egypt – Galabeya
Libya – Jellabiya, Farmla (an embroidered vest), Fouta
Morocco – Djellaba, Fez hat and Balgha (male), Takchita (female)
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – Darra'a (male), Melhfa Sahraouia (female)
Tunisia – Jebba, Chechia, Fouta
Southern Africa
Angola – Pano
Lesotho – Shweshwe clothing and blankets, Mokorotlo
Malawi – Chitenje
Mozambique – Capulana
Namibia – Herero traditional clothing
South Africa – Afrikaners and Rooineks: slouch hat, safari shirt, veldskoen, knee-high socks, khaki Bermuda shorts; Sotho: shweshwe clothing, mokorotlo Xhosa: Umbhaco Zulu: Zulu crown
Zambia – Chitenje
Zimbabwe – Chitenje
Western Africa
Yoruba men in folk costume
Benin – Dashiki suit and Aso Oke Hat (male), Buba and wrapper set (female)
Burkina Faso – Batakari (male), Kaftan (female)
Cape Verde – Pano de terra
Côte d'Ivoire – Kente cloth (male), Kente kaba and slit set (female)
Gambia – Boubou (male), Kaftan (female)
Ghana – Kente cloth or Ghanaian smock and Kufi (male), Kente kaba and slit set (female), Agbada (male)
Guinea – Boubou (male), Kaftan (female)
Guinea-Bissau – Boubou (male), Kaftan (female)
Liberia – Dashiki suit and Kufi (male), Buba and skirt set (female)
Mali – Grand boubou and Kufi (male), Kaftan (female)
Mauritania – Darra'a (male), Melhfa Sahraouia (female)
Niger – Babban riga, Tagelmust, Alasho (male), Kaftan (female)
Nigeria – Agbada, Dashiki or Isiagu and Aso Oke Hat (male), Buba and wrapper set (female)
Senegal – Senegalese kaftan and Kufi (male), Kaftan (female)
Asia
Central Asia
Kazakhstan – Chapan, Kalpak (male), Saukele, Koylek (female)
Kyrgyzstan – Chapan, Kalpak (male), Saukele, Koylek (female)
Tajikistan – Chapan
Turkmenistan – Chapan
Tuva – Deel Mongols – Deel
Uzbekistan – Khalat, Tubeteika, Chapan
East Asia
China – Chinese clothing. Each ethnic groups of China have their own traditional costume. Han Chinese – Cheongsam, Changshan, Tangzhuang Manchus – Magua Tibetans – Chuba Uyghurs, Hui and other Chinese Muslims – Tubeteika
Japan – Kimono, Junihitoe, Sokutai Fukuoka Prefecture - Mizu happi and fundoshi Hokkaido - Ainu clothing
Korea – Hanbok (South Korea)/Chosŏn-ot (North Korea)
Mongolia – Deel
Taiwan - Han Taiwanese - Cheongsam, Tangzhuang Taiwanese Aborigines - Aboriginal groups in Taiwan conserve traditional indigenous styles; popular styles include Amis, Atayal, Bunun and Paiwan styles.
South Asia
Afghanistan – Pashtun dress: Afghan cap, turban, Shalwar Kameez (male), Firaq partug, Chador (veil) (female)
Bangladesh – Sherwani, Kurta and Pyjama (male) and Sari, Lehengha, Shalwar Kameez and Dupatta (female)
Bhutan – Gho (male) and Kira (female)
India – Achkan, Shalwar Kameez, Sherwani, Dhoti, Phiran, Churidar, Kurta, Turban,(male) and Sari, Patiala salwar, Lehenga, Choli, Pathin (female)
Maldives – Dhivehi libaas (women) and Dhivehi mundu (men)
Nepal – Daura-Suruwal and Dhaka topi, (male) and Gunyou Cholo (female); Traditional Newar, Sunuwar, Rai, Limbu clothing
Pakistan – Peshawari pagri, Shalwar Kameez, Churidar (male), Shalwar Kameez and Dupatta (female)
Sri Lanka – Kandyan sari (female)
Southeast Asia
Indonesian girl wearing traditional Palembangese Songket
Brunei – Baju Melayu, Songkok (male), Baju Kurung, Tudung (female)
Cambodia – Sampot, Apsara, Sabai, Krama, Chang kben
East Timor – Tais cloth clothing
Indonesia – (See: National costume of Indonesia). There are hundreds of types of folk costumes in Indonesia because of the diversity in the island nation. Each ethnic group of Indonesia have their own traditional costume; Batak tribe: Ulos Javanese people: Beskap, Batik shirt, Blangkon, Songkok, Sarong (male), Kebaya, Tudung, Sarong (female). Malay people: Baju Melayu, Baju Kurung, Songket Papua: Koteka etc.
Laos – xout lao, suea pat, pha hang, pha biang, sinh
Malaysia – Baju Melayu and Songkok (male), Baju Kurung, Baju Kebarung (Kebaya/Kurung hybrid), Tudung (female)
Myanmar – Longyi, Gaung baung
Philippines – Barong (male) and Baro't Saya; Maria Clara gown, Terno (female)
Singapore: Chinese Singaporeans - Hanfu, Cheongsam (female), Tangzhuang (male),Changpao (male), Indian Singaporeans - Sari (Female), Dhoti (Male), Kurta Malay Singaporeans - Baju Melayu (Male), Baju Kurung (female), Sarong Peranakans - Kebaya (female), Baju Lokchuan (male)
Thailand – Chut thai: Thai female: Thai Chakkri, Thai male: Suea Phraratchathan, Both genders: Chong kraben and Sabai.
Vietnam – Áo giao lĩnh, Áo dài, Áo tứ thân, Áo bà ba.
West Asia
Armenia – Armenian dress, Arkhalig, Chokha
Azerbaijan – Azerbaijani traditional clothing: Arkhalig, Chokha, Kelaghayi
Bahrain – Thawb
Israel – Tembel hat, Biblical sandals, Yemenite Jewish clothes; Jewish religious clothing: Rekel, Bekishe, Tzitzit, Kippah, Tichel.
Iran – Chador, Turban, Kurdish clothing, minority traditional clothes: Qashqai, Azerbaijani, Gilaki and Turkmen clothing.
Iraq – Assyrian clothing, Keffiyeh, Hashimi Dress, Bisht, Dishdasha; Kurdish clothing in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Jordan – Keffiyeh, Bisht, Bedouin clothing[[INLINE_IMAGE|//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Bedouin.jpg/152px-Bedouin.jpg|//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Bedouin.jpg/228px-Bedouin.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Bedouin.jpg/303px-Bedouin.jpg 2x||h235|w152|thumbimage]] Modern Bedouin from Saudi Arabia with turban and jambiya dagger
Lebanon – Tantour, Keffiyeh, Labbade, Taqiyah
Kurdistan – Sirwal (pants), Kurdish clothing, gold coin belt and necklace for women.
Kuwait – Thawb
Oman – Dishdasha
Palestine – Keffiyeh, Palestinian costumes.
Qatar – Kandura
Saudi Arabia – Thawb, Ghutrah, Agal, Bisht, Abaya, Jilbab, Niqab
Syria – Dishdasha, Sirwal, Taqiyah, Keffiyeh
Turkey – Fez, Kaftan, Shalvar.
United Arab Emirates – Kandura, Abaya
Yemen – Similar to Saudi Arabia, but with the addition of an ornate jambiya and leather bandoliers for the men's costume.
Europe
Eastern Europe
Belarus – Slutsk stash, the national type of wimple (namitka)
Georgia – Chokha (Every region has its own specific design of Chokha)
Ossetia – Chokha
Russia – Sarafan, Kokoshnik, Kosovorotka, Ushanka, Valenki; (Sami) Gákti, Luhkka for colder weather Chechnya – Chokha, Taqiyah (cap), Ushanka in cold weather
Ukraine – National costumes of Ukraine: Vyshyvanka, Sharovary, Żupan, Ukrainian wreath
Central Europe
Czech Republic – Kroje
Hungary – National costumes of Hungary
Poland – Żupan, Kontusz, Rogatywka (National costumes of Poland)
Slovakia – Kroj (embroidered traditional dress)
Northern Europe
Denmark – Folkedragt Faroe Islands – Føroysk klæði Greenland – Parka
Estonia – Rahvariided[1]
Finland – Every region has its own specific design of national costume (kansallispuku, nationaldräkt). These vary widely. Many of them resemble Swedish costumes, but some take influences from Russian costumes as well. For the Sami in Finland, each place has its own Gákti or Luhkka for colder weather
Iceland – Þjóðbúningurinn
Ireland – Aran sweater, Irish walking hat, Grandfather shirt, Leine
Latvia - Tautastērps
Lithuania - Tautinis kostiumas
Sweden – Sverigedräkten has varied from region to region but since 1983 has an official National Costume in one common version; 18th century: Nationella dräkten; Sami: Gákti, Luhkka for colder weather
United Kingdom: England – English country clothing, Morris dance costumes, Flat cap, English clogs Cornwall – Sou'wester hat, fisherman's smock, gansey, bal-maiden clothing, Cornish kilts and tartans. London – Pearly kings and queens Northumbria - Maud, Border tartan, Northumbrian tam, blue bonnet, Rapper dance costumes Northern Ireland: Similar to Ireland. Scotland – Highland dress: Kilt or trews, tam o'shanter or Balmoral bonnet, doublet, Aboyne dress, and brogues or ghillies. Wales – Traditional Welsh costume
Southern Europe
Albania – Albanian Traditional Clothing
Andorra – Barretina, espadrilles
Bulgaria – Every town has its own design of a national costume (nosia), with different types of clothing items traditional for each of the ethnographic regions of the country.[2][3]
Croatia – Croatian national costume, Lika cap, Sibenik cap
Greece – Fustanella, Amalia costume; Ancient Greek clothing: Peplos, Chiton. Greek fisherman's caps in many coastal villages by the Aegean sea.
Italy – Italian folk dance costumes; Roman clothing: Toga, Stola South Tyrol – Tracht and Dirndl Sardinia – Every town has its design of the traditional folk costume. Sicily – Coppola, Arbereshe costumes
Malta – Għonnella
Montenegro – Montenegrin cap
North Macedonia – Macedonian national costume
Portugal – Every region has its own specific design of a national costume.
Romania – Romanian dress
Serbia – Serbian traditional clothing, Lika cap, Montenegrin cap, Opanci, Šajkača, Šubara Kosovo – Traditional clothing of Kosovo
Slovenia – Gorenjska noša (Upper Carniola)
Spain – Every autonomous region has its own national costume. Andalusia - Sombrero cordobes, traje de flamenca, traje de luces, montera Basque Country – Beret, espadrilles Catalonia - Barretina, Faixa Galicia - Each province has its regional costume. A hat akin to a witch hat is worn in rural areas.
Western Europe
Austria – Tracht and Dirndl
Belgium – Bleu sårot
France – Every region has its own specific design of national costume. The most famous French traditional clothing could be the Breton costume or the Alsatian costume; commonly associated French items of clothing are the beret and the Breton shirt.
Germany – Every region has its own specific design of a national costume. For example, Bavaria's well-known Tracht: Lederhosen and Dirndl.
Liechtenstein – Tracht, Dirndl
Netherlands – Dutch cap, Klompen North Brabant – poffer
Switzerland – Every canton has its own specific design of a national costume.
North America
Caribbean
Cuba – Guayabera, panama hat (male), guarachera[4] (female)
Dominican Republic – Chacabana
Dominica – Madras
Haiti – Karabela dress (female), Shirt jacket (male)
Jamaica – Bandanna cloth Quadrille dress (female), Bandanna cloth shirt and white trousers (male), Jamaican Tam
Puerto Rico – Guayabera, panama hat (male), enaguas[5] (female)
St. Lucia – Madras
Trinidad and Tobago – Afro-Trinidadians and Tobagonians - Shirt jacket (male), Booboo (female) Bélé costume (female); Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian - Kurta, Dhoti, Sherwani (male), Sari, Choli, Lehenga (female)
Central America
Belize - Mestizos - Huipil (female), Guayabera (male); Mayas - All tribes wear distinct kinds of Mayan dress.
Guatemala – Huipil, Corte skirt, Tocado (female), Todosantero suit (male)
Nicaragua – Huipil, Rebozo (female), Sombrero, white shirt and trousers (male)
Panama – Pollera (female), Montuno (male)
Northern America
Bermuda – Bermuda shorts
Canada: Alberta - Canadian tuxedoes (denim jacket with denim shirt and blue jeans) and western wear are common on folk events such as the Calgary Stampede. They’re often worn with Calgary White Hats. First Nations – button blanket, buckskins, moccasins, Chilkat blanket, Cowichan sweater, war bonnet. The use of the term costume to denote traditional dress may be considered derogatory in First Nations communities. Regalia is the preferred term. Lumberjacks - Traditional logging wear includes mackinaw jackets or flannel shirts, with headgear being a tuque or trapper hat; a good example is seen with folk characters like Big Joe Mufferaw. Métis – Ceinture fléchée, Capote, Moccasins Newfoundland - Traditional mummers dress in masks and baggy clothes in Christmas season celebrations; the Cornish influence has also brought yellow oilskins and sou'westers as typical wear in coastal areas. Nunavut and other Inuit communities – Parka, mukluks, amauti Quebec and French Canadians – Ceinture fléchée, Capote, tuque
Mexico – Charro outfit, Sarape, Sombrero (male), Rebozo, China Poblana dress (female); every state has a typical folk dress, for example: Chihuahua and Coahuila – cowboy hats, cowboy boots, bandanna Oaxaca: Tehuana Sonora - Yaqui or Seri clothes; Sonora is unique among Mexican states to not have a representative costume, yet the indigenous clothing, especially the Deer dance costume of the Yaqui, is very popular. Tamaulipas Cuera tamaulipeca Veracruz - Guayabera Yucatán – Guayabera (male), Huipil (female)
United States: Alaska – Kuspuks, worn with dark pants and mukluks, as well as parkas are traditional native wear. American Southwest, Texas and rural areas in the Midwestern and Western US – Western wear, derived from original Mexican vaquero and American pioneer garb is traditional dress in Texas, the Southwestern US, and many rural communities, including cowboy hats, Western shirts, cowboy boots, jeans, chaps, prairie skirts, and bolo ties. American Upper Midwest, Pacific Northwest, the northern portions of the Great Lakes Basin and northern New England (especially Maine) – Due to the cold weather, the garb in rural areas tends to more closely adhere to heavier materials, such as flannel or Buffalo plaid mackinaw jackets, the occasional parka, and trapper hat. A good example is seen in the typical attire of Paul Bunyan, a folk hero popular in areas where logging was a common occupation, as well as lumberjacks working in the area. Amish (notably in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio), the Pennsylvania Dutch and some sects of Mormon fundamentalism (especially in Utah) preserve traditional 19th century clothing styles. American South – Traditional Southern US wear includes seersucker suits for men, and sun hats and large Southern belle-style dresses for women. Seersucker suits are also commonplace in the District of Columbia on Seersucker Thursday. The Cajun people of Louisiana traditionally wear the colorful capuchon for Mardi Gras celebrations. Gullah communities in the South Carolina Lowcountry and Sea Islands preserve the traditional African-style clothing and culture. Nantucket – Summer residents of Nantucket will often wear Nantucket Reds. Various styles of Native American clothing; for example, traditional pow-wow regalia for Plains Indians: Moccasins, buckskins, glass beads, breech clouts, and war bonnets or roaches. New York City – According to folklorist Washington Irving, knickerbockers similar to the breeches of the Pilgrims and Founding Fathers were traditionally worn by many wealthy Dutch families in 19th century New York. These short pants remained commonplace among young urban American boys until the mid 20th century.
Oceania
Australia and New Zealand
Australia Aboriginal Australians: fibercraft-made clothing, possum cloak European Australians: cork hat, bushwear: Moleskin trousers, bush shirt, Akubra slouch hat, Driza-Bone coat, Australian work boots Torres Strait Islands – Augemwalli
New Zealand Māori – Māori Flax Skirts New Zealand Europeans - Swanndri bush jacket, slouch hat, walk shorts, knee-high socks
Melanesia
Fiji – Sulu, Tapa cloth (called masi), I-sala
New Caledonia – Manou, Robes mission
Papua New Guinea – Meri blaus, lap-lap, Koteka
Vanuatu – Aelan dress, Lap-lap
Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia - Lap-lap (male), Grass skirt (female)
Palau - Lap-lap (male), Grass skirt (female)
Polynesia
Cook Islands – Pareo
French Polynesia – Pareo Marquesas Islands – Pareo
Hawaii – Aloha shirt, Muumuu, Holokū, Pāʻū, Malo (loincloth)
Samoa – Lavalava, Puletasi, 'ie toga clothing
Tonga – Tupenu, Ta'ovala, Tapa cloth
South America
Peru
Argentina – Gaucho costume
Bolivia – Poncho, Chullo, Andean pollera
Brazil – Each region has its own traditional costume. Bahia – Baiana and Abadá Brazilian carnival or Samba costumes for Rio de Janeiro. Caipiras (Brazilian country folk) in Sao Paulo, Goiás and other nearby states conserve traditional folk styles of clothing, imitated by participants of festa juninas. Gaúcho costumes for Rio Grande Do Sul. Indigenous clothes for many states within the Amazônia Legal area Northeastern sertão (desert) – Vaqueiro clothing
Chile – Huaso costume: Chamanto, Chupalla
Colombia – Sombrero Vueltiao, ruana, white shirt, trousers and alpargatas (male), blouse, Cumbia pollera, Sombrero vueltiao and alpargatas (female); every region has a distinct costume.
Ecuador – Poncho, Panama hat
Guyana Afro-Guyanese - Shirt jacket (male), Booboo (female) Indo-Guyanese - Kurta, Sherwani, Churidar (male), Sari, Lehenga (female)
Paraguay – Ao po'i
Peru – Chullo, Poncho, Andean pollera
Suriname – Kotomisse, Pangi cloth
Uruguay – Gaucho costume
Venezuela – Llanero costume (Liqui liqui and pelo e' guama hat; men), Joropo dress (women)