Jammu & Kashmir is the most beautiful part in the South Asian region, which is full of widely varying people, rich culture and scenic geography. Administratively, these days, Jammu & Kashmir has a territorial dispute among three countries; Pakistan, China and India. Pakistan controls the northwest portion (Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir), India controls the central and southern portion (Jammu and Kashmir) and Ladakh, and China controls the northeastern portion (Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract). However, without going into this occupational controversy, the people of Kashmir are famous in the world for their traditions, customs and hospitality. The Kashmiri people usually practice Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism and speak Urdu, Kashmiri, Pahari, Hindi and Ladakhi languages.

A Kashmiri couple in Kashmiri costume ( Sudarshan P's Image )

This is not feasible to cover the whole Kashmiri culture and tradition in one article. In this article, we’ll try to highlight the dress culture of Jammu & Kashmir. The dominating religion of Jammu & Kashmir is Islam, so the Kashmiri Muslim community loves to dress up with “Pheran”. Pheran , the traditional dress of Jammu & Kashmir is a long loose shirt which hangs down below the knees along with a white turban tied on a skull cap, a close-fitting trousers and lace less shoes called Gurgabi.

Kashmiri girls wearing the traditional Pheran ( Image: Khurram Aziz Shaikh )

The Pheran for Kashmiri women is more stunning and graceful with the heavy embroidery and has broad sleeves. Pheran is considered a combination of Indian and Iranian clothing. The Hindu Kashmiri women also use Pheran as their dress with a little distinction. A Hindu woman’s Pheran touches her foot which is tied at the waist with folded material called lhungi. Their dress is fully embellished with brocade including the head-dress called Taranga. The men’s wear for the Kahmiri Hindus mainly includes Churidar Pajama and they use the beautiful skull caps without a shawl.

A Kashmiri bride on her wedding day ( Image : Avinash Anand )

For the Kashmiri Hindu woman or a Muslim woman, one thing is common i-e the charm for the ornaments. With the splendid ornaments, the women of Jammu & Kashmir love headgears, arm glistens, necklaces and earrings. The additional ornament for the Hindu women may be “Dhareejo” which is the typical mangal-sutra for them. As the women of Jammu and Kashmir are known the best for their beauty, the use of these type of jewellery adds more plus in their magical appearance.

A typical Kahmiri Shawl prepared from Pashmina wool (Mohsin Khawar Photography- Pakistan)

The traditional dress of Jammu & Kashmir also includes the delicate Cashmere wool products and Kashmiri Shawls. These Shawls are popular in the world for the elegant material and exotic embroidery applied on them. The most precious of them are the Shawls prepared with Pashmina Wool which is also combined with the rabbit fur. Pashmina wool is obtained from the native Ibex that lives on the high altitude on 14,000 ft. Similarly, the Shawls those are prepared in Ladakh with Shahtoosh wool are also very rare and considered very expensive. Shahtoosh wool comes from the Chiru antelope and nowadays this is enlisted as endangered. So there is a ban imposed by the authorities on the trade of Shahtoosh.

A beautiful Ladakhi girl in her traditional dress (Ladakh - Kashmir) Image: slider_ss

In Ladakh, the popular Ladakhi dress is Goncha which is normally an ample robe of a thick woolen cloth and which is supported with a brilliant belt tied around the waist. The loose trousers are used with Goncha and both the males and the females use this dress with a slight variation. As it is mentioned earlier, the most attractive feature is the colorful waist ( Kamar Bund ) and in the festive or ceremonial occasions the chromatic and showy robes are worn. The other appealing component of the dress of a Ladakhi woman is “Peark”. Peark is actually a headgear prepared with the coating of black lamb decorated with turquoise stones that appears a cobra’s hood and tapering to a thin tail reaching down the back. Some Ladakhi women also wear another robe known as “Kuntop” with  the additional attire, i-e actually a fascinating and colorful shawl and it is called as “Bok”.

A group of folk dancers from Ladakh in traditional costumes (Photo: brij khazanchi)

The traditional dress of Jammu & Kashmir is unique in the whole Indian Sub-Continent as it comes from various cultural backgrounds. In the modern times, although the use of the typical and classical Kashmiri dresses is lessened by the Kashmiri youth as they prefer the jeans and shirt, yet in the festivals and in the wedding ceremonies, the use of the traditional dress seems common.

A wonderful group of Kashmiri girls in traditional Pheran performing the Kashmiri folk dance ( Ramesh Lalwani's Image )

Tajikistan is a small state of the Central Asia but it is a country of thousands of years old culture and traditions. If you go in Tajik market, you’ll see numerous Tajik men and women with a similar feature; their black and bushy unibrows. A unibrow (or monobrow) is a “confluence of eyebrows”; that is, the existence of extra hair between the eyebrows.

A Tajik woman with unibrows fashion ( Image: El-Len )

Surprised? What unibrow has to do with culture? For Tajiks, this is a matter of prestige and beauty. Especially in women, unibrow is considered the symbol of feminine beauty and purity. Even in the men, the presence of unibrow is associated with virility. This is quite opposite to the rest of the world, where the presence of unibrows is considered as a symbol of ugliness and this unnecessary facial element is often removed or plucked.

A Tajik man with his traditional cap ( Image: Em and Ernie )

Apart from the unibrows, the other prominent aspect of the Tajik culture is the traditional dress of Tajikistan that was developed as a part of the Central Asian costume. Although these days the clothing culture is much influenced with the Western dressing or it is mixed with the Western styles. Yet, we can see the Tajik people wearing their traditional dresses in the streets and bazaars.

A pretty Tajik girl with unibrows and traditional dress ( Image: Mikhail Romanyuk )

Normally, Tajik men are seen wearing jeans and shirts or in formal suiting while the Tajik women are observed in skirts, stockings and heels. The skirts of the women may contain many layers embellished with flowery or wavy patterns with round-toed heels having beads or buckles.

Tajik women in their traditional clothing in a ceremony ( Image: Sadaf Belal )

The traditional dress of Tajik men is a bulky trouser along with a collared and tunic shirt. Normally this dress was accompanied with a traditional black hat that was decorated with white embroidery. In some parts of Tajikistan, the men also use turbans for their head cover. The situation of the Tajik women clothing was not much different except from the neckline shaping of the long tunic shirt. The traditional dress of the Tajik women is long shapeless attire prepared with brilliant and showy color patterns along with the matching pants. The dress was usually accompanied with the embroidered traditional shoes.  Some women also use Scarf or Hijab in order to cover their head or neck.

A Tajik dancer performing in Bukhara (Uzbekistan) - Image by mittu12

Nowadays, the traditional dress of Tajikistan is usually worn in the wedding ceremonies by the Tajik people. Especially it is the primary choice for a Tajik woman on her wedding day when she also plucks the excessive hair between her eyebrows. In the festive occasions or in the ceremonies of the national importance, the folk people are seen performing in their traditional dresses.

A Tajik folk dancer in her traditional costume ( Image : Koshy Koshy )

The people of Uganda use the silk and cotton as the fabric for their clothing and prepare very colorful dresses, as normally the people of other African people wear. The traditional dress of Uganda comprises of many variations, however, the most popular of them in women and men is Gomesi and Kanzu. Although, historically the population is of Uganda, which was consisting of many ethnic groups used to wear the dresses made of the materials like leaves, plants and wildlife skins. These garments include the double piece clothes to cover the upper and lower body parts. The pure traditional dresses of the Ugandan people also consisted of many personal adornments like body marks, tattoos and facial paintings. Similarly they were also fond of wearing various ornaments like bracelets, earrings, nose pins, beads and headdresses. Ankle jingles, bird feathers and cowrie shells also played an important role in the adornments of the people of Uganda.

Traditional dress of Uganda : Image by sarahemcc

The modern dress of Uganda was evolved with the passage of time; especially with the advent of Christianity and colonialism. The Christian missionaries suggested the alteration in the dresses of the women of Uganda  as the ankle length Gomesi which is also known as Basuti, was introduced and for the Ugandan men, the change was the induction of the long tunic garments.

The Ugandan women wearing traditional Gomesies. Image by sarahemcc

The Gomesi is basically a floor-length, brightly colored cloth dress with a square neckline and short, puffed sleeves. The dress is tied with a sash placed below the waist over the hips. The Gomesi has two buttons on the left side of the neckline. Gomesi is the present national attire for the women of Uganda which they also use, not only in day to day wear but as the special functional dress too.  A well-made Gomesi can require up to six meters of cloth.Although, in the urban areas of Uganda, the women have a trend to use the western garments but overall, the majority of the Ugandan women dislike the western dresses.

Children of Uganda in cultural dress. Image by Bread of the World

Kanzu is the national and traditional dress for the Ugandan men which is considered as the adaptation from the typical Arabian dress “thobe”. The traditional kanzu has maroon embroidery around the collar, abdomen, and sleeves. The embroidery is called the omulela. The major center of kanzu knitting and production is Mende, Uganda. The modern Ugandan men also use suits and long sleeved jackets with shoes as their dresses.

Ugandan dancers performing in traditional attires .Image expo_2002

The use of stylish adornments along with the traditional dress of Uganda is also widespread these days. The traditional modes and fashions in the dressing are equally popular in all parts of Uganda.

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Wander here and there in Belgium! You’ll find the French domination in the Belgian clothing. It is very much true that Belgium is the European country having the population of French, Dutch, Flemish and Flanders who inhabited Belgium thousands of years ago. But today, in all of the three territories i-e Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels, you’ll hardly find any Belgian wearing the traditional attire as by now, the traditional dress of Belgium has become the part of the Belgian folklore. Any how, the traditional dress of Belgium is a charming European attire.

Traditional Belgian Costume: From the Mo’s photo stream on flickr

The Belgian male population love to wear Smocks and Berets, the trends of which were picked by the Belgians from the French during their period of oppression upon them. On one side, the French language has put a huge impact on the Belgians and on the other, their clothing is mainly influenced by the French styles. Till the twentieth century, the youngsters in Belgium could usually be seen dressed up with the long and traditional tunic shirts supported by pant letters. Knee pants were a normal part of the Belgian boys but with the passage of time, it became the story of the past.

Belgium traditional woman’s costume

Similarly, traditionally the Belgian women used long gowns to cover themselves. But, these gowns were so beautiful and sophisticated that the most of the ethnic women in Belgium had adopted them. The Huntress was very famous and traditional costume for the Belgian women, as also today; the Belgian women wear these as their wedding attire. The dress has ties which have been given a trimming with colorful beads. Fashion designers that produce this Belgian costume for today’s masses offer an opportunity to choose your own trims and make the huntress dress with detachable sleeves. The dress is worn with a special chemise which is usually white in color.

Belgian wedding costume

The Belgian women also used to wear Eponin that was actually a slimming dress and it was usually stitched with fully lined cotton twill. It had a square neck accompanying with a matching trim. Each side of the Eponin was laced up with decorative garments. The dress had a very narrow waist and as such it flatters the natural feminine form of the wearer. We hope, you liked this article on the traditional dress of Belgium, a charming European attire.

Belgian girl in traditional dress

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The people of Nepal wear different types of costumes having the influences of ethnically religious repercussions and thus their traditional dress seems a bit whimsical but still it is very charming. Daura Suruwal is considered as the National Dress of Nepal which consists of a knee-length sleeved shirt that ties closed at the side, pants and shoes called docha. This dress is normally worn by the Nepalese men and it may also subsist a coat or jacket over for warmth. Several aspects of the Daura Suruwal have religious implications for the Buddhist and Hindu practitioners in Nepal.

Daura Suruwal is considered as the National Dress of Nepal – Image by marcwiz2012

Nepal has many ethnic communities and several groups and one of them is known as Tamangs who live in the hill stations of Nepal. Tamang women love to wear tamang lungi, tamang jewellery, tamang patuka, tamang cholo, tamang mala and tamang ghalek.

Traditional dress of Tamangs, Nepal by Ashish Lohorung

The Gurung people, also called Tamu, are also another ethnic group from different parts of Nepal, who are actually the indigenous people of country’s mountain valleys.The Gurung women wear with pride their traditional costumes not only in day to day routines but also they showcase it on the ocassions of the national importance and other important events of daily life.

The Gurung women – ILO in Asia and the Pacific (Image Courtesy)

The Magars are also one of the oldest ethnic groups of Nepal. The traditional dress of Magar Women consists normally a dark coloured sari with a bright yellow or blue cotton cloth wrapped around the waist (patuka) and a wrap-up blouse. The shoulders are covered with a shawl worn diagonally and another shawl is worn on the head. Men wear a wrap-on-knee-length loincloth (kachhad) with a short vest tied at the shoulders and a dhaka topi on their heads.

Magar Couple by O_P_M – Nepal Traditional Dress

Traditional Dress of Nepal is never complete without mentioning the Newar clothing which is worn by the indigenous people of Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions. The garments are associated with the old aristocracy, merchants, farmers, craftsmen and professionals. Most of the clothes are made of homespun. Men’s common costume consists of a long shirt called tapālan and tightfitting trousers known as suruwā. Women wear black cotton saris with a red border known as hāku patāsi.It is still widely used especially among farmer women as everyday wear and is the most popular dress during festive occasions.

Traditional Dress of Nepal – Image owned by fernando zarur

Like these above mentioned ethnic groups, there are the Sherpas. and the Traditional Sherpa costume is similar to that of Tibetans. The basic garment is the chhuba. Likewise the Kirat or Kirati people are also indigenous of Nepal and are hunter tribes from the Himalayas. They have also magnificent and colorful traditional costumes.

The Katmandu Fall Festival in Sonoma, California . Image by ah zut

A country that emerged from the Roman Empire and once that remained the part of the great Ottoman Empire; and later transformed itself into a sovereign Kingdom. Located in the Southeastern Europe, this is Romania, which became a socialist republic at the end of the World War II in the last century. And today, Romania is an independent and wealthy state of the European Union having a rich abundance of artists, musicians and fantastic heritage. Today’s democratic Romania is considered as the paradise for economics and tourism and some call it as “the Tiger of Eastern Europe“. Tourism industry in Romania is the main contributor to the Romanian economy, generating around 5% of GDP which obviously has many attractions to the world including phenomenal places and tremendous cultural festivals.

Girls from Romania in folk costumes – The Folk Dance Parade – Photo by Denis’ Life

In this article, we’ll try to facilitate our readers in understanding the traditional dress of Romania which is certainly so captivating and graceful. From the above mentioned paragraph, you would have rightly speculated that the Romanian traditional costume is a synthetic fusion of many civilizations. Unfortunately like most of the countries of the lovely planet, the Romanians are also gradually losing their magnificent cultural values and today, their traditional dress code has only become the part of the ethnographic and folk ceremonies in the country. Romanians mostly live in Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Serbia so their traditional costumes are having many varieties.

Folk costume – Romania – Image by Denis’ Life

The traditional dress of Romania both of the men and women basically consisted of a shirt or chemise, usually made from the fabrics like hemp, linen or woolen cloth.

Folk dancers from Romania – Beautiful and exotic traditional dresses – Image Courtesy – Denis’ Life on flickr

The Romanian men traditionally wear completely white costumes having white trousers reaching to the ground and white long-sleeve shirts that button down the middle. Over the top they also used to wear the vests that were slightly shorter than the shirt and were left open. On their heads, they wear tall, cylindrical black hats.

A Romanian boy wearing traditional attire – Image by nicubunu.photo

But there are some variations like in some areas; the Romanian men prefer the shirts to be worn outside trousers. Similarly some Romanians used to wear trousers with a more modern cut often made of dark material rather than white.

A pretty Romanian girl in traditional dress in a wedding ceremony – Photo by Basil & Tracy

The traditional dress for the Romanian women included black skirts magnificently adorned with red stripes running downward. These shirts like the men’s shirts are also long-sleeved, but they are brilliantly beautified and decorated with red embroidery, especially down the arms. Vests are traditionally common both in Romanian men and women and the vests for the women are usually black with dazzling red trim. Modesty is the basic element in the traditional Romanian dress and the women normally cover their heads with scarves or other head coverings. Usually their hair is pulled back beneath scarves, which are decorated with floral designs.

A Romanian dancer in magnificent pose wearing traditional dress – Image by Oude School

The outer garments of Romanians are usually made of sheepskin, or felted woolen fabric.

Traditional Romanian Folk Costumes from Bran, Brasov, Transylvania, Romania. Image by andradadaciana

The traditional dress of Romania which is so captivating and graceful is fortunately not completely out of screen as if you travel in the remote and country side areas of the country, you’ll find the Romanians wearing the traditional clothing. Especially on Sundays, the Romanians in the remote areas love to wear their local costumes. The fur hats in Romanian men are still popular like caliciulă which is still worn in winter in rural areas. Women usually cover their heads with the printed woolen scarves, and also use a traditional straw hat over the scarves while working in the fields.

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Thousands of years ago, the Khosian people started to live in the Southern African landlocked country which is today known to the world as the Republic of Zambia. In the thirteenth century, Zambia was also affected from the colonization and became a fascinating place for the European expeditors. Zambia became the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia towards the end of the nineteenth century. On 24 October 1964, Zambia got independence from the United Kingdom.

Zambian children performing their traditional drama – Traditional costumes – Photo by Lubuto Library Project

Zambia has a huge territory and it has the area about the size of France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland combined. The population is around 15 million and the country is considered as the most urban country of Africa.  The population comprises approximately 72 ethnic groups, most of which are Bantu-speaking. Expatriates, mostly British or South African, as well as some white Zambian citizens, live mainly in Lusaka and in the Copper belt in northern Zambia.

Women of rural Zambia – Image by skuarua

The culture of Zambia is slightly different from the other native African nations as the people of Zambia are comparatively modern and having urban living tendencies. However, the ethnic populations who mainly dwell around Lusaka and the Copper belt have still the values, norms, material and spiritual traditions inherited from their origin.

A Zambian lady in her traditional dress with her kid – Image by IICD

Zambians celebrate many annual traditional festivals where they exhibit their customs, social life, rituals, oral history, material and spiritual culture.

Barefoot acrobats of Zambia with traditional masks – Image by Lubuto Library Project

It is hard to find the Zambians wearing their traditional costumes in their modern lifestyle. They wear western dresses in their day to day affairs. The reflection of the traditional dress of Zambia is only seen during their participation in the festive events where they celebrate rituals as their ancestors used to do centuries ago. The traditional dress of Zambia is although rare but unique in nature and is a cluster of painted masks, fiber wigs and headdresses, skirts made with fiber and animal skins and ornaments of beads and rattles. By wearing such traditional costumes, the Zambians represent the souls of their ancestors, monsters, clowns, majestic animals and spirits.

Lozi fishermen of Zambia n their traditional costumes – Image by Alexander Brugger

Zambians also traditionally wear “Chitenge”, which is a dress made with the African cotton and it is also worn in many other African countries. The Lozi people of Zambia have also a unique traditional dress which is actually a flared outfit (both for men and women) and known as “Musisi”. The men wear the flared skirt along with a waistcoat having the traditional African print. A red colored hat is also very common in the Lozi men which are usually made with cotton fabric.

Women of the remote Zambia – Image courtesy by virtualwayfarer

The Lozi women of Zambia wear a large skirt extending from the waist in a conical shape. Whether it is Chitenge or Musisi, their dresses are usually made with colorful patterns. Sometimes, the women dresses may also be rectangular in shapes. The head scarves worn by the Zambian women are normally made with the same smaller pieces of the cloth. Modesty reflects from the traditional way of clothing of women in Zambia as they cover the private parts of their bodies, from their waist down, and even over trousers.

Zambian women dancing in their traditional costumes – Photo by rebecca (flickr)

The traditional dress of Zambia is although rare but unique in its nature. If you walk along the streets of Lusaka and other major cities, you’ll find many vendors selling the traditional chitenges in various colors and designs. Some markets are specifically known for the selling of the typical Chitenge and Musisi dresses in Zambia.

A traditional Bemba man performng his traditional show – Photo by Lubuto Library Project

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The diverse populous and Caribbean island country, Cuba was discovered by Columbus in 1492 and the country remained under the Spanish domination till 1898. Cuba is a multiethnic country and the population is estimated from 11.06 million to 11.17 million.

A Cuban dancer in traditional out fit – Image by calrice1

The majority of the population is classified as mulatto (mixed African and European descent), thirty-seven percent of the population claims to be exclusively white, and 11 percent is classified as “negro.” 1 percent of the population is of Chinese descent. Officially known as the Republic of Cuba, the country has the largest city, Havana which is also capital of the country.

Colourful street performers in Havana, Cuba. Image by Jungle_Boy

The culture of Cuba is of diverse origins and having so many influences. Prior to the Spanish colonizers, the territory was inhabited by aboriginal Taíno and Ciboney tribes who were actually the major indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The country remained under the Spanish occupation for a long time and many African slaves were imported to the region during this period.

A man with traditional straw-hat and cigar, Cuba – Image by FrankBoyd

After the Spanish–American War of 1898, the American influence was also reflected and later a strong relationship was also developed with the then Soviet Union. These all factors altogether brought the emergence of a mixed and multiethnic culture in Cuba.

The traditional cigar lady of Cuba – Image by HarryJayphotos

Traditional dress of Cuba is also a product and repercussion of all these multi-cultural effects and the Afro-Spanish significance is more reflected on it. Women of Cuba love to chose light weight fabrics for their dresses but they adorn it with wonderful designs and brilliant colors. For many decades, the trend is to wear ruffled skirts, overemphasized sleeves, bright colored blouses and embroidered shirts. The young women are normally seen in jeans and western T-shirts but in the dancing festivities and wedding ceremonies, the Cuban women still normally prefer to use the traditional outfits.

Traditional dancing in Santa Clara, Cuba – Image by trailofdead1

Light cotton or linen is the priority of the Cuban women to make their dresses while some also prefer satin for this purpose. It might not be wrong to mention that a lot of ruffles around the cuffs on the sleeves and down the skirt is the most common style found in the women’s dress in Cuba. Such dresses are worn by the brides and other women in the wedding occasions as well.

A Flamenco performer in Cuba. Traditional outfit – Image by mike_harre

Rumba dresses and Bata Cubana are also types of the traditional clothing for women in Cuba that are worn by them in many celebrations. The colors, the ruffles and the material are a mix of African, Spanish and even French influences. In today’s Cuba, this type of dress is worn more as a costume for a performance or for salsa or rumba dancing.

Women wearing traditional African clothes, Cuba – Image by Chaymation

If we don’t mention Guayabera in the traditional dress of Cuba, it will be a huge mistake. Guayabera is normally popular in all of the Latin American countries, but the Cubans claim that this wedding shirt was originally started from Cuba.

Guayabera is the traditional dress of Cuba – Image copyright huitzilli – Huitzilli Brooklyn NYC

The guayabera shirt has two (or four) front pockets, and two groups of closely spaced pleats on the front and back. It has a dress-style collar and buttons, and is worn loose and long with slits a few inches up the sides. They’re worn on casual and even some formal and work-related occasions.

Women’s Guayabera Dress

An offshoot of the guayabera shirt is the feminine version, the guayabera dress. Long, loose, and lightweight, it can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

Cuban Dancing Ladies in traditional costumes – Image by libertygrace0

Traditional dress of Cuba which is a product of multi-cultural effects is becoming rare as the Cubans are feeling easier in wearing the western costumes these days. But it is true that the Cubans have magnificent and fashionable lifestyle and their artistic attitude is also reflected through their creative designs in their traditional outfits.

Modern young Cuban girls in casual wear – Image by Adam Jones, Ph.D. – Global Photo Archive

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Let’s talk about a small but beautiful island country of the West Indies. Antigua and Barbuda is a three-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. This small country has a population of around 81,000 people comprising of the people of West African, British and Madeiran descent. There are small numbers of persons of Portuguese, Lebanese, and Syrian ancestry. The country had indigenous population that was extinct after the European settlers and African slaves descended upon the islands. Antigua and Barbuda was colonized by the British in 1632 and endured slavery through the years of sugar plantations. The nation received its independence from the Great Britain in 1981.

Traditional outfits of Antigua are becoming popular in the whole Caribbean region Image Via Krysii Torel

Partly volcanic and partly coral in origin, Antigua and Barbuda has deeply indented shores lined by reefs and shoals. It has developed a magnificent and individual Creole culture. The dominant religion in the country is Christianity. Today, you’ll find the people of Antigua and Barbuda in the dresses same as people of America and England. Mostly due to warm weather, informal dress code is followed by the Antiguans and Barbudans.

Today, you’ll find the people of Antigua and Barbuda in the dresses same as people of America and England. Image by Coady Institute

Traditional dress of Antigua and Barbuda is a part of the numerous cultural festivals and carnival celebrations held in the country. After the independence, the government of Antigua and Barbuda decided to declare a particular dress having a national identity. In view of this, in 1992, several designs were collected in a competition held to celebrate the eleventh Independence Day. A design made by a native artist namely Heather Doram was selected, who was also the director of culture of the country.

Traditional dress of Antigua and Barbuda is a part of the numerous cultural festivals and carnival celebrations held in the country. Photo: wemissedthebus

The dress was later declared as the national dress of Antigua and Barbuda and the same was having versions for both men and women. The dress was made with a unique fabric known as Madras that was imported to Antigua and Barbuda from India. Madras is a lightweight cotton fabric with typically patterned texture and plaid design, used primarily for summer clothing such as pants, shorts, dresses, and jackets.

The inspiration for making the traditional dress of Antigua and Barbuda was taken from the outfits usually worn by the fruit and vegetable vendors and cake makers of the country.

The inspiration for making the traditional dress of Antigua and Barbuda was taken from the outfits usually worn by the fruit and vegetable vendors and cake makers of the country. Now on the events held on the Independence Day and on other national celebrations, the same dress is worn by the locals with pride and honor.

A man from Antigua and Barbuda in casua outfits. Image by stefanedberg

These traditional outfits are becoming popular in the whole Caribbean region and are admired by the tourists especially in the Antigua’s carnival. These costumes have been featured in many International and Caribbean publications and printed on post cards as a symbol of the Antiguan heritage.

People enjoy wearing bikinis, shorts, swimwear and other colorful beach costumes. Image by antiguan_life

It is to be remembered that there are hundreds of beaches in Antigua and Barbuda and all are open to the public. On the beaches and resorts, the clothing culture is same as on other island countries. People enjoy wearing bikinis, shorts, swimwear and other colorful beach costumes. However, it is not acceptable to wear revealing clothing or beachwear in towns or villages. It is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing and those found wearing any military-type clothing will be arrested.

Traditional jewelry items of Antigua and Barbuda are mainly crafted out of natural found objects. Image by andryn2006

Traditional jewelry items of Antigua and Barbuda are mainly crafted out of natural found objects such as fan coral (sea fans) and recycled leather to hand-dyed and painted silk sarongs. Some other form of traditional materials like palm bracts and date palm branches are also used in making the traditional souvenirs, gifts, wall-hangings and ornaments.

Traditional dress of Antigua and Barbuda

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This country is a real homeland to fashion; this is what most of us truly know. But a few will have knowledge about the heritage history of this great nation. France is located in the Western Europe which is the largest country in Europe having its territories all over the lovely planet.  France was once known as the main hub for the luxury items production and their trade which is still continued. France remained a dominating country in its history as it was a major power in Europe since the late middle ages. You can easily guess the cultural significance of France as it has the world’s fourth-largest number of cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites and thus it attracts largest number of tourists from all around the globe.

Traditional dress of France has distinctions in various regions. Image by TarValanion

The archaeological history of France is evident that the country had a strong past of sophisticated cloth making that surely started from animal-skin. Later invasions brought positive change in the region’s cultural scenario. More innovations were adopted by the cloth merchants as new fabrics like silk and linen were introduced.

Traditional costumes in France are rarely seen as the same are the part of folklore and cultural celebrations. Photo by Max Mayorov

Tunic-shaped and wool made cloaks over linen made shirts were in common. Wealthy people enriched their dresses with gold-thread and silver-thread embroidery. Stockings and socks embellished with skillful knitting were quite popular. Similarly, the elaborate and fascinating shoes were also used. Magnificent headdresses are significant parts of the traditional French outfits.

Traditional outfits of France are fabulous and colorful indeed.

Real progressive change occurred in the French clothing during the renaissance period when home-based small units involved in the silk-weaving business were established everywhere. Silk fiber resultantly also lead to produce different types of decorative items for dresses as tassels, fringes, pompoms, silk embroideries and floral ribbons. Lace making was become the prominent feature of the French textile industry.

The outfits of France were usually bedecked with brilliant floral patterns. Image: Loren Javier

Enormous development was made in the women clothes as the fashion of white colored lace-trimmed blouses and aprons was massively accepted. The outfits were usually bedecked with brilliant floral patterns. In some parts, white flared bonnets and dresses with wide elbow-length sleeves were also trendy.

Women of France wearing traditional costumes and looking graceful.

France is historically Europe’s most populous nation as in 2013; France ended with a population of 65,820,916 people. Currently a large number of immigrants who have sought asylum from the French government are also inhabited in France. These immigrants mainly belong to other European, Latin American and African countries. France is a large multiethnic country and many ethnic groups reside in different parts of its territory. When it comes to the traditional dress of France, there is distinction in the clothing trend of various regions. Commonly, French people are seen in pants and skirts and wearing stylish hats. Traditional costumes are rarely seen as the same are the part of folklore and cultural celebrations.

Bliaut was fit closely from the shoulder to approximately the elbow, and then widen from the elbow to drape to floor- or nearly floor-length. Image by Catrijn

Between eleventh to the thirteenth century, an over garment known as the bliaut or bliaud that was made with woolens, linens or silks was also acclaimed among the French elite. Bliaut was fit closely from the shoulder to approximately the elbow, and then widen from the elbow to drape to floor- or nearly floor-length. Both men and women wore floor length bliaut while some bliauts included a double wrapped belt as well. This medieval garb was equally popular in other European countries like England and Germany.

During renaissance, mantua was also a famous object in the clothing for the French women. LJPitcher Images

During renaissance, mantua was also a famous object in the clothing for the French women. In the beginning, the mantua was actually a cloak like a loose gown, with sleeves cut in one piece with the back and front. It was pleated at the shoulders and fell to the waist, where it was held in place by a sash. From there it was folded back into a bustle shape and worn over a matching petticoat. The dress was gradually become acceptable for women as a cherished formal costume in France.

French hood was actually a multi-layered and complicated traditional head-dress.

The French hood was actually a multi-layered and complicated head-dress sitting flat on the wearer’s head that was originated from France during the sixteenth century.  Velvet, satin and taffeta was commonly used for the hood, and satin, taffeta or a lighter fabric for the veil. French hoods were normally made after preparing the buckram and millinery-wire bases which that were covered with fabric. In the sixteenth century, French hood contained coif or cap that was made with linen and tied under the chin.  The veil of a French hood was sometimes made semi-circularly while sometimes rectangular by others. Billaments were the decorative borders along the upper edge of the hood and the front edge of the coif or paste.

A fichu was a large, square kerchief worn by the French women to fill in the low neckline of a bodice. Image by Jean-Yves Brossard

A fichu was a large, square kerchief worn by the French women to fill in the low neckline of a bodice. It originated in the United Kingdom in the 18th century and remained popular there and in France through the 19th with many variations, as well as in the United States. The fichu was generally of linen fabric and was folded diagonally into a triangle and tied, pinned, or tucked into the bodice in front.

In the French military uniform, kepi hat made with a fine cloth having a flat circular top along with a short leather bill was also used customarily. Photo by Aurelien G. Photographie

In the French military uniform, kepi hat made with a fine cloth having a flat circular top along with a short leather bill was also used customarily. Even today, the same type hats are worn by the French police and military. Kepi hat is usually associated with the United States Civil War in North America. French customs officers (douaniers) and the Gendarmerie still wear kepis for ceremonial duty.

A French man wearing the triditonal breton shirt. Image by Julie70

The striped Breton shirt which is popular these days was originally introduced for the French navy as the white striped knitted shirt was made as the uniform for all French navy seamen in Brittany. The original design featured 21 stripes, one for each of Napoleon’s victories. Later, it became the favorite attire of the sailors of the northern France. In the start of the twentieth century, Breton tops were fashionable garments among the common French people particularly the working class.

Beret was a common headdress among the French people – Image by John Kroll

Beret was a common headdress among the French people as the same was evolved to protect the head from harsh weather effects. It was made with rain-resistant wool fabric usually hand-knitted or woven and it got immense popularity in the 19th century, when it was made the component part of the soldier’s uniform. Today, beret is considered as a strong sign of local identity in the southwest of France and is worn while celebrating traditional events.

A faluche is a traditional cap worn by students in France. Image by Gaetan Zarforoushan

French youth especially students feel proud in wearing faluche, which is a traditional beret shaped cap, normally black in color and adorned with bright ribbons and badges. The colors and badges related to the faluche recall the life of the student. The circular is covered with a fabric band taking again the colors of the studied discipline. In 1988 the 100th anniversary of the faluche was celebrated in Reims, which has continued annually, in a different city each year.

French people are rarely seen wearing traditional dresses. Photo by Erminig Gwenn

French people are no more interested in wearing their traditional dresses in the modern life. However, as it is mentioned earlier that France is the most attractive tourist destination in the world, the folk artists, traditional performers and entertainers amuse the visitors by wearing colorful traditional dress of France.

Traditional Bourrée dance costume of France – Image by TarValanion

It is better for understanding that the traditional dress of France is found in many versions both for the men and women. Due to this, there is no declaration as the national dress of France by the French government.

Traditional dress of France is found in many versions both for the men and women.

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This country, who leads science and technology, owes a magnificent history and having one of the ideal places in the world to live, is the largest populous country of the European Union. It is located in the central Europe, the territory of which was first inhabited by Celts and then it became the land of the Germanic tribes. Today, it is known as the Federal Republic of Germany which has the area equal to Montana, US. The current German state was founded in 1949 after the end of the World War II.

Traditional dress of Germany is a well preserved item in the German cultural heritage. Image by avarty 2

Germany is a fascinating land of literature, art and culture. There are hundreds of theaters and professional orchestras in the country and it has wonderful big cinema industry. The history of Germany is written on its walls and architecture. Obviously, in addition to the features of striking heritage of this land of thinkers and poets, Germany has also fantastic clothing culture and traditions. Germany is one of the leading countries in the fashion world and German fashion is popular all around the lovely planet in the ready-to-wear and custom-made creations.

Traditional outfits from Germany – Image by s_mestdagh

Traditional dress of Germany is a well preserved item in the German cultural heritage which is fabulously exposed in the cultural festivals and traditional events held in the country. Millions of Germans participate in such events with pride and patriotism and make their appearance bright and colorful by wearing the traditional German costumes. Drindl, tracht, lederhosen, loden cape, gamsbart and many other outfit items are symbolic not only in the culture of Germany but also in all other German speaking nations, particularly Austria.

See also - Traditional dress of Austria: Dirndl, Lederhosen and Tracht

Traditional dress of Germany keeps its prevalence in the museums, books, history, folklore and performances during the native festivities. Image by VIPevent

Altdeutsche Tracht, can be understood as the basic current in the German fashion clothing as the same was also once considered as the national dress of Germany. It was introduced in Germany in the start of the nineteenth century during the time of what is in German historiography known as the Befreiungskriege, the “liberation wars”, the last years of the Napoleonic Wars. The popularity of this clothing fashion affected every walk of life as they accepted it as a symbol to reject the foreigner’s domination upon themselves. Prominent features of this traditional fashion of Germany included the puffed and slashed sleeve, wide open collars, tight fittings long cut skirts, matching footwear along with large velvet berets. The dress played a vital role in the resistance movements in the country as it was an attempt to establish itself as an icon of national identity or identical emblem of Germanic peoples.

A popular traditional male dress in Germany is lederhosen. Image by sharpals

Leather is historically one of the materials commonly used for clothing. From the alpine areas of Germany and other surrounding countries, a popular traditional male dress is lederhosen which was basically known as the attire of the working class. Lederhosen were once widespread among men of the Alpine and surrounding regions, including Bavaria and Austria. Lederhosen have remained regionally popular and are commonly associated with virility and brawn. Typically, lederhosen are the leather shorts and usually those are having simpler cutting for the young boys. Men’s Lederhosen are more heavily ornamented, and the straps of the suspenders used to secure the shorts may also have embroidery and other ornaments. Different regions have different traditional decorations.

German boys used to wear lederhosen up to the age of about sixteen years. Image by San Diego Shooter

German boys used to wear lederhosen up to the age of about sixteen years. These lederhosens were not decorated with embroidery but had the typical attributes of suspenders/braces and drop-front flap.

The dirndl is the traditional dress especially for the women of Germany . Image by Ian Westcott

The dirndl is the traditional dress especially for the women of Germany especially in the state of Bavaria which is used as an everyday dress primarily by older women in rural areas. Other women may wear it at formal occasions and during certain traditional events. Nowadays, dirndl is worn by the German women in the cultural programs and events like the most popular, the Oktoberfest. This superb event which takes place every year has grabbed the attention of the worldwide visitors who are coming to attend this tremendous event since last two centuries.

See also : Oktoberfest of Germany

Nowadays, dirndl is worn by the German women in the cultural programs and events. Photo by avarty

A dirndl skirt generally describes a light circular cut dress, gathered at the waist that falls below the knee. It is basically a ruffled apron dress worn by German women that consists of a bodice, or blouse, and a skirt. The winter style dirndl has heavy, warm skirts and aprons made of thick cotton, linen, velvet or wool, and long sleeves. The colors are usually rich and dark. The summer style is lighter and more frivolous, has short sleeves, and is often made of lightweight cotton.

Black and red drindl. Image by Miles Cave

Accessories may include a long apron tied round the waist, a waistcoat or a wool shawl. As far as jewelry is concerned, women often sport necklaces, earrings and brooches made of silver, the antlers of deer or even animals’ teeth. For colder weather there are heavy dirndl coats in the same cut as the dresses, with a high neck and front buttons, thick mittens and wool hats. Along with the dirndl, German women prefer to wear traditionally a soft, felt shoe with clunky heels and decorative ideal for free movements and stepping during dance.

Loden cape -A typical fur coat of the Tyrolean origin was introduced by the peasants which is known as Lodencape.

A typical fur coat of the Tyrolean origin was introduced by the peasants which is known as Lodencape. Traditionally it is made with thick and water resistant woolen material. The fabric is derived from the course, oily wool of mountain sheep and has a traditional bluish-green color. Today it is worn with modern variations in Germany and Austria.

Tracht – Photo by Trachtenland Hessen

Tracht is a pure traditional costume in Germany. These dresses were sewn with lots of skills by expert tailors who prepare them with fine linen and felt fabrics. Wool and silk were the other materials that were used in making more expensive trachts. Hand stitched embroidery was the additional beauty of this elegant dress that adorn it in spectacular style. Today, these traditional outfits are prepared with more artistic delicacy and adorable decorations for the tourists coming to Germany. The traditional Trachten vests and waistcoats are favorite among Germans during their folklore ceremonies and national events.

Gamsbart – Image by mhobl

The Gamsbart is a tuft of hair traditionally worn as a decoration on trachten-hats in the alpine regions of Germany. A Gamsbart is usually constructed by enclosing the lower end of the tuft of hair in a setting of metal or horn that allows the upper end to spread in a brush-like fashion. Traditionally, hairs are selected for a dark color at the lower end with a very light tip. The size and diameter of the Gamsbart are important signs of the wearer’s pride and manliness.

The Tyrolean hat or Alpine hat is a type of headwear from Germany. Image by citronella36

The Tyrolean hat or Alpine hat is a type of headwear that was originally a crown tapering to a point and was made of green felt with a brim roughly the width of a hand, something that was especially common in the Zillertal. There are various forms of Tyrolean hat. Frequently the hats are decorated with a colored, corded hatband and a spray of flowers, feathers or “brush” at the side of the crown. The traditional “brush” is made of the tail of the chamois goat. It takes a variety of forms, and may often be combined with feathers. Tyrolean hat has become the image bearer of “Tyrolean culture” as a tourist symbol, influenced also by folk music bands who wore fanciful “local” costumes.

Two cute German girls wearing traditional drindls. Photo by wolfgraebel

Although, Germany is considered as a fashion hub presently which is having one of the largest textile industries in the world; traditional dress of Germany keeps its prevalence in the museums, books, history, folklore and performances during the native festivities. The German youth truly consider and regard it as the identical emblem of Germanic peoples, even in the current era of fashionable swinging. Even today, they owe it and accept it as a matter of pride and national loyalty.

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