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Clothing: Traditional Styles Across the Continents

By KRISTEN STERNBERG
NIE EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT

Maybe you already know that people around the world wear different styles and kinds of clothing. Why do you think this is?

You can probably guess some of the reasons clothing styles vary. One important reason is climate. Whether a climate is hot, cold, rainy or dry makes a big difference in what people wear. Traditional clothing of Alaskans, Siberians, and Icelanders typically consists of warm, heavy coats and boots made from animal skins, while those in tropical climates such as Hawaii are more likely to wear fewer clothes, perhaps made from natural fibers such as woven grasses, linen or cotton as their traditional costumes. Sometimes the colors of clothing have special meanings. The color purple has become associated with royalty, because long ago purple was so rare and expensive that only kings and queens could afford to buy it. Can you think of any modern situations where colors have special meanings?

Some styles are associated with specific regions of the world, such as the brightly-colored, woven clothing of many African tribal people. People from different tribes and ethnic backgrounds are working to preserve styles that show their pride in their heritage. For example, some Japanese artists are recreating how kimonos were once made, using traditional cloth-dyeing methods, silk fabrics, embroidery and historical designs.

Religion sometimes plays a part in what people wear, too. Followers of some religions - Zen Buddhism, for example - do not dress in or use anything made of leather or other animal products. Others from religions such as Islam cover themselves in clothes from the tops of their heads down to their feet, feeling that it is not proper to show any part of the body-even an ankle or an ear-in public.

Take a look at this News-Journal article to see how traditional clothing was a part of a Kwanzaa ceremony. There are many important rituals like these around the world. Rituals and ceremonies, from war dances to weddings, commonly call for special costumes. These clothes may be made of rare or expensive, colorful materials, and they may be detailed and especially difficult to make, perhaps requiring years to complete. Native American beaded jackets and feathered headdresses are examples. Think about how you might dress up if you were attending a service at a Christian church, or a Jewish temple. After you check out the newspaper activities below, look at the World Wide Web links provided to see pictures of many kinds of traditional costumes.

Try these fun activities using the News-Journal!

1. Imagine that you have won $150 for a shopping spree to buy clothing! Make a list of everything you will need for a complete outfit. Then search your newspaper for pictures of each piece of clothing. Clip out the pictures (and their prices), keeping the total to $150 or less. Glue or paste your items to a piece of paper and put the total cost at the bottom. How did you do? (Sunshine State Standards: MA.A.3.2.2, MA.A.3.2.3, MA.A.4.2.1, MA.B.3.2.1)
   
   

Traditional Dress Greek dancers perform the "Kalamatiano". (Photo: News-Journal/Mark Pearlman)

2. Find a picture of a person in the newspaper. What can that person's clothing tell you about his or her life? Write a story about why you think that person chose the clothing he or she was wearing that day. Here are some possible starters for your descriptive story. "It was a hot day, and Maria…" or "Rashad carefully adjusted the tie his wife gave him for their anniversary before he…" Share your story with a parent, teacher or friend. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.1.2.2, LA.B.1.2.1, LA.B.1.2.2, LA.B.1.2.3, LA.B.2.2.5)
   
   
3. Weather and climate play a big role in how people dress. Take three sheets of paper. On one, write the word "HOT." Write "COLD" on the next one, and on the third, write the word "RAINY." From the newspaper, clip five pictures of clothing that would likely be worn in a HOT climate, five worn in a COLD climate, and five worn in a RAINY one. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.1.2.2, LA.A.2.2.5; MA.D.1.2.1)
   
   
4. Who wears a uniform? Uniforms are a kind of costume, or ritual clothing, and they are worn for many purposes and in different professions. Search the classified section of your newspaper for job advertisements that might require applicants to wear a uniform. Cut out the ads. Did you include uniforms of the military, and professions such as the medical field? Count yourself an expert if you found eight or more types of uniforms. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.1.2.2; MA.E.3.2.2, SS.A.2.2.3)
   
   
5. In the newspaper, find an article about a person whose occupation requires him or her to wear a uniform while at work, and draw a picture of what you think the uniform looks like. Hint: look for an article about the Space Program, or a medical operation, or perhaps a symphony concert or athletic event. What other kinds of articles might you look for? (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.1.2.2; VA.A.1.2.1, VA.B.1.2.1)

A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org.

Check out these web links to learn more about traditional clothing styles around the world

Look at colorful, ceremonial kimonos of Japan from early history to the present. Then check out some other Japanese costumes and traditional fashions.

Many Native Americans once wore moccasins made of animal hides to keep their feet warm. Check out these web sites for pictures and to view a neat map showing many different styles of moccasins.

A Canadian web site has information about and pictures of some types of clothing worn by native, or aboriginal, peoples.

Check out this site about African Kente cloth to learn the meanings behind the colors and patterns of these beautiful, woven fabrics. Saris, the national dress of India, are also colorful and beautiful.

Traditional of Chinese Dress - Did you know it was from the Xia and Shang Dynasties that dress system came into being in China? See the difference between the Pien-fu and Shen-i.

Which of the styles you looked at do you like the most? Which do you like the least? Why?

The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many of our nation's and world's newspapers. Visit the site and check out some other newspapers to see if they have articles about clothing, costumes or traditional dress in different parts of the world. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries.

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