Ethnic Costumes and Textiles of the World

You can tell a lot about a particular culture by its clothing, and each area of the world has produced its own unique forms of customs and dress. Learning about the clothing, fabrics, and textiles of the world is a fascinating experience and one that we should all take the time to engage in.

AFRICA

• African Fabrics – basic bibliography of works on African fabrics

• African Textiles – images of different varieties of traditional African clothing

• Akan Kente Cloths – introduction to and images to Kente Cloth

• Egyptian Costumes – brief information on the clothing of ancient Egypt

• Fashioning Identity – National Museum of African Art overview of traditional African clothing

• Trade Theory vs. Used Clothes in Africa – New York Times article on the modern African clothing industry

ASIA

• Age of the Samurai Armory – the weapons of the ancient Japanese Samurai warriors

• Collection of Textiles from Southeast Asia – Burke Museum exhibit on Southeast Asian textiles

• History of the Kimono – history of this traditional Japanese garment, which many Western children wear as Halloween costumes to go trick or treating

• Korean Hanbok – all about this customary clothing from Korea

• Robes of Honor – page about the Ikat robe

• Traditional Chinese Apparel – succinct information on traditional clothes from China

• Women on the Pacific Rim – information on traditional clothing and fabrics from the Pacific Rim

AUSTRALIA

• Aboriginal Technology – Aborigine use of spears and other weapons

• Riji – traditional Aboriginal jewelry

• Aboriginal Necklaces – detailed information on Aboriginal necklaces and hair string

CENTRAL AMERICA

• Short Background on Mexican Textiles – brief data on textiles and clothing in Mexico from the Arizona State Museum

• Textile Art of Chiapas Maya – all about traditional textile art in Mexico

• Traditional Mayan Clothing – full of information on traditional Mayan garb

EASTERN EUROPE

• East European Textile Collections – site with pictures and information on traditional European clothing from Michigan State University

• Slavik Traditional Weddings – images from a traditional Slavic wedding, including Slavic clothing styles

• Traditional Textiles and Dress in Turkey – museum exhibit on traditional Turkish clothing, included here because of Islam’s presence in Turkey even though Turkey is not specifically a Middle Eastern Country

MIDDLE EAST

• Costumes from Palestine and Syria – multiple traditional outfits from Palestine and Syria

• Islamic Clothing – article on Muslim dress from The Encyclopedia of Islam

• Jewish Art and Clothing – data on the Jewish Yarmulke and other sacred pieces

• Jewish Ritual and Music – Jewish prayer shawls, and teffilin, traditional religious clothing

• Women, Islam, and Hijab – on the traditional Muslim head covering called the hijab

NORTH AMERICA

• Amish Beards and Hats – brief information on Amish facial hear and hats

• Native American Clothing – overview of the clothing worn by the American Indians

• Pueblo Moccasins – traditional pueblo footwear

• Regional Overview of Native American Clothing Styles – images of six different traditional tribal attire

POLAR REGIONS

• Alaska's Digital Archives – loads of pictures of Eskimos in traditional dress

• Eskimos and the Aleut – all about the Eskimo and Aleut peoples, including information on their clothing and use of tools/accessories

• The Hall of Masks – information on traditional masks that the Siberian and Alaskan natives wore

• The Inuit Experience – photos of the Inuit people and information on their clothing

• Norse Costume Bibliography – bibliography of works on the clothing of the Norse people, many of whom settled the arctic regions

SOUTH AMERICA

• Feathered Crown – introduction to a headpiece that many Brazilian Indians wear

• Kayapo Feathered Headdresses – more on feathered headdresses from Brazil

• Peruvian Villagers in Ethnic Dress – image of male Peruvians in traditional village dress

• South American Clothing and Textile Collection – University of Cambridge collection of traditional South American clothing

WESTERN EUROPE

• Enzian Schuhplattler Tracht – on traditional Bavarian costumes

• Costumes from Macedonia – clothing that has been worn in Greece for centuries

• Handbook of German Dress – images and data on traditional German clothing from the Costume Gallery site

• Scotland at the Smithsonian – Smithsonian exhibit on the Scottish kilt

• Weaver's Book of Scottish Tartans – great pictures and data on Scottish tartan cloth

• Vive le Beret – history of the French beret from the British newspaper The Independent