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Clothes - Traditional Clothing Around The World

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Although clothing today is globalized, there are still countries or regions that dress in the traditional

way. Let’s go for a trip and look at some of those traditional garments.

India – Sari

The sari is a piece of fabric that is draped over a


woman's body starting at the waist and ending over a
shoulder. They're often connected to India and the
people of the Indus Valley region. The origination of sari
goes back nearly 5,000 years, and the word 'sari'
translates to 'strip of cloth'. Sari come in all different
colors and can be worn eighty different ways.

Japan – Kimono

The Japanese kimono dates to 800 B.C.E. Like the kimono, many
traditional clothing styles date back thousands of years. In every part of
the world, distinctive styles of clothing dominate the regions, and these
articles help shape each culture. Let's take a trip around the world from
the Americas to Asia and talk about the traditional clothing that makes
each area unique.

Myanmar - Longyi

The most widely recognized Burmese national


costume is the longyi, an ankle-length wraparound skirt worn by males. It
is often ideally combined with a Taipon (a traditional Burmese shirt). When
wearing this clothing, men tie it up around the waist. A longyi has no
pockets so, to carry items, they need to put these things outside around
the dress, at the waist’s position. Typically, men wear a longyi in dark
colors.
While people of other countries only wear traditional clothes on special
occasions, Burmese men wear their national costumes daily. It is because
these clothes are comfortable and suitable for the humid weather of the
country.

Germany and Austria – Dirndle and Ledehose

Lederhosen, which means "leather trousers" in German, are the short, leather
pants worn by men. These are usually knee-length and are the historically worn
by working-class German men. The dirndl is a ruffled apron dress worn by
German women that consists of a bodice, or blouse, and a skirt.

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Mali – Kaftan

Kaftans worn by women today in Africa were originally men’s attire. In


modern times both men and women wear kaftans that can either be
just a simple one garment robe plus hat or a 3 piece ensemble
completed with a hat and a scarf to make a very impressive outfit.

Peru – Layers of skirts

Quechua women's dress today is rooted in traditions from pre-


conquest Peru (a fusion of Inca and Huari cultures), and Spanish
Colonial peasant dress.
In the Peruvian High Andes, each village has a unique style of
clothing that identifies the wearer as belonging to that region.
Indigenous women in the Andes dress in layers of bright, colorful
traditional Andean clothing, including capes, shawls, embroidered
skirts, and vibrantly colored hats. However many women dress in modern clothing these days, and
wear their traditional garb for special occasions.

Saudi Arabia – Covering up

Saudi Arabian national dress conforms to standards, traditions,


climatic conditions and preferences of local people. That's why Saudis
choose traditional clothing, not Western style of attire. Also the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia refers to the Muslim world, and the national
costume shows it. Saudi people are conservative in clothing, family
relationships, religion and way of life in general. For man it consists of
an ankle-long shirt called "thawb", a long cloak called "bisht", and a
headdress.
Women wear a long dress, an outer cloak called "abaya", and a scarf called "shayla". Saudi
women always cover their body, sometimes they leave only face and wrists uncovered, and some
women leave only eyes and wrists.
Scotland - Kilt
A kilt is a type of knee-length men’s dress skirt non-
bifurcated with pleats at the back, originating in the traditional
dress of Gaelic men and boys in the Scottish Highlands.
Although the kilt is most often worn on formal occasions and
at Highland games and other sports events, it has also been
adapted as an item of informal male clothing, returning to its
roots as an everyday garment.

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Answer true (T), false (F) or we don't know
1. The sari has been worn for five years.
2. The sari is worn only outside the big cities.
3. Most women find the sari impractical.
4. The kimono is also worn in India.
5. At festivities you can still find the kimono.
6. In Myanmar, men also wear a skirt.
7. Most men prefer bright colors for their skirt.
8. In summer, all women in Germany wear a dirndl.
9. The farmers still wear lederhosen.
10. Lederhosen and dirndl are cheap garments.
11. The caftan is worn only in Mali.
12. Caftans are very colorful.
13. African clothing also includes a hat.
14. In Peru, women wear several skirts on top of each other. This type of clothing comes from
the Incas.
15. This type of clothing comes from the Incas.
16. In Saudi Arabia, the whole body is covered.
17. This type of clothing is very warm.
18. Men prefer white.
19. Traditionally, the kilt is worn only by women.
20. Today, only athletes wear the kilt.

Answer the questions

1. What do you think? Should traditional clothing continue to be worn, or should people rather
switch to modern clothing? Justify.
2. Which of these garments do you find most beautiful? Why?
3. Is there a typical clothing in your country? Describe it.
4. Have you worn typical clothes during a trip? Where?
5. What kind of clothing do you usually wear at work? Do you have a uniform or clothing
code?
6. What do you wear when they go out? Is the clothing the same as the daily work clothes?
7. If you are invited to a party, do you put on special clothes?
8. What do you like to wear the most?
9. What colors do you like? What colors don't you like?
10. Are you rather discreet or extravagant?
11. Do you think that the clothes say something about the person? Justify.
12. Do you think fashion is important in your life these days?
13. Clothes make people". Do you agree? Why? Why not?

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