Folk costume, traditional dress, traditional attire or folk attire, is clothing associated with a particular ethnic group, nation or region, and is an expression of cultural, religious or national identity. If the clothing is that of an ethnic group, it may also be called ethnic clothing or ethnic dress. Traditional clothing often has two forms: everyday wear, and formal wear. The word "costume" in this context is sometimes considered pejorative, as the word has more than one meaning, and thus "clothing", "dress", "attire" or "regalia" can be substituted without offense.[1][2][3][4]
In areas where Western styles of dress have become typical, traditional garments are often worn during special events or celebrations, particularly those connected to cultural tradition or heritage. International events may cater to non-Western attendees with a compound dress code such as "business suit or national dress".
There are also contemporary societies in which traditional garments are required by sumptuary laws. In Bhutan, for example, the driglam namzha mandates what citizens should wear in public spaces.[6] Bhutanese citizens must wear the traditional clothing of the Ngalop people, including a gho and kera for men and a kira and wonju for women,[7] including when on official business, in schools and institutions, and at official occasions and assemblies".[8] These restrictions apply to when people are in or near "monastic fortresses (dzong), monasteries (gompa) and temples (lhakhang), and in government buildings. Karin Altmann, a scholar of textile arts, states that the intent behind this law "was to prevent specific features of Bhutanese culture from disappearing," and "to emphasize national identity",[8] but it has contributed to much conflict due to the ethnic and cultural diversity of Bhutan.[9]
Kenya – There is no national costume, per se, but leso (kanga) is worn throughout Kenya;[14]kikoi, similar to kanga fabric, is also widespread. All tribes have their respective traditional garments, though; for example, the Maasai wear their traditional shuka and beadwork[14]
Han Chinese – Hanfu (shenyi, ruqun, shanku), also Manchu-inspired clothing (tangzhuang, cheongsam, changshan). Many stereotypes that foreigners have regarding Chinese folk costume (as well as other customs) actually come just from the Han Chinese.
Hokkaido – Ainuclothing, such as a tepa, a sacred belt called raun kut or upsoro kut, a konci (hood), hos (leggings), and grass skin jackets like tetarabe and utarbe; ceremonial garments include a sapanpe and a matanpushi
Southern Altaians – ton (fur coat), sürü bӧrük (cap), kaptal (overcoat), and the chegedek (Altai-Kizhi) or chedek (Telengits), a sleeveless cloak historically the daily and ceremonial wear of married women, now worn only as bridal attire or during festive occasions[22]
Indonesia[28] – There are numerous national and regional clothing in Indonesia due to the diversity of cultures that make up the island nation; they include:
Austria – Each state has a specific design on national costume; the most famous is that of Tyrol, consisting of the characteristic Tyrolean tracht and dirndls.
Germany – Every state has its own specific design of a regional costume (Tracht). For example, Bavaria's well-known tracht: Lederhosen and Dirndl. Many stereotypes that foreigners have regarding German folk costumes (as well as other customs) actually come from the state of Bavaria.
Hungary – elements of Hungarian folk costumes include pendely (linen underskirt), gatya (pleated skirt-like pants), elejbőr (sheepskin vest-like item), kacagány (fur pelt), and ködmön (sheepskin coat)[32]
Switzerland – Every canton has a specific design of national dress. The most famous Swiss costumes come mainly from the German-speaking cantons of Appenzell, Bern and Zug.
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.[35]
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.[41][42]
Canary Islands – Every island has its specific style of traditional dress. Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre designed a costume in Gran Canaria in 1934 to serve as pan-islander costume for all islands, but only caught on in Gran Canaria, being specific to its capital city Las Palmas.
France – Every administrative region has a style of folk costume, varying by department. For example, Brittany, with Breton costume varying by department and predominantly used in Cercles celtiques, pardons and festivals.
Netherlands – Many areas, villages, and towns used to have their own traditional style of clothing. In the 21st century, only a few hundred people still wear traditional dresses and suits on a daily basis. They can be found mainly in Staphorst (about 700 women), Volendam (about 50 men) and Marken (about 40 women). Most well-known parts of Dutch folk costumes outside the Netherlands are probably the Dutch woman's bonnet and klompen.
Bahamas – None, unofficially Androsia-cloth clothing. Junkanoo costumes can be considered folk costume but fall more into the sector of carnival dress than traditional garment.
Trinidad and Tobago – Tobago has an Afro-Tobagonian Creole culture with the Bélé costumes as their typical garment, commonly made of madras. Trinidad, however, has no defined national garment; the two major ethnic groups in the island wear the following during cultural occasions:
Canada – Each region has its own traditional costume:
Lumberjacks of Quebec and Ontario – 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. Many stereotypes that foreigners (non-Canadians) have regarding Canadian folk costume (as well as other customs) actually come from Quebec and Ontario.
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.
Utah – Mormons may dress in 19th-century pioneer clothing for Mormon trek-related activities and events.
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 shirts or Buffalo plaidmackinaw jackets, and a knit cap or, in the case of the Upper Peninsula, a Stormy Kromer cap. 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. Due to the cold climate very similar to that of neighboring Canada, the style of clothing worn in the region is generally associated more with Canada than with the United States by foreigners (non-Americans).
Louisiana – The Cajun people of Louisiana traditionally wear the colorful capuchon for Mardi Gras celebrations. Creole women used to historically wear the tignon, mostly in plain or madras fabrics, but it is now sometimes worn for heritage events or cultural reasons.
Samba costumes for Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian carnival costumes are used only during the four days of Carnival by Samba schools members. Outside of Carnival, the most traditional men's clothing is that of the malandro carioca (carioca rascal) or sambista, a stereotype of the samba singer, with white pants, a striped shirt, white jacket, and a straw hat. Many stereotypes that foreigners have regarding Brazilian folk costume (as well as other customs) actually come from the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Caipiras (Brazilian country folk) in São Paulo, Goiás and other nearby states conserve traditional folk styles of clothing, imitated by participants of festa juninas.
Pará – typical clothing of Carimbó, a popular dance from the northern region of Brazil.
Indigenous clothes for many states within the Amazônia Legal area. In this region, there is an extensive indigenous community with different ethnicities, and each of them has their own typical clothes.
An example (among several) is the kushma used by the Asháninka.
Guyana – Guyana is unique among South American nations to not have a designated style of national dress. Every ethnic group wears their cultural clothing during important events or occasions:
^Martinez, Gimeno; Leerssen, Joep (2022). "Dress, design : Introductory survey essay". Encyclopedia of Romantic Nationalism in Europe. Amsterdam: Study Platform on Interlocking Nationalisms. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
^"National Costumes". Lithuanian National Culture Centre. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
^"Bunad history". bunadogfolkedrakt.no. Norsk institutt for bunad og folkedrakt (Norwegian Institute for Bunad and Folk Costume). Retrieved November 3, 2023.
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