A nation’s national costume is a symbol of its culture, the culture of its people and can also be thought to represent the history of that nation. Although the majority of men and women no longer wear national clothing daily, a national costume is still of great importance to all cultures as it provides a unique identity to the nation as well as the person who wears it.
National outfits differ from, country to country and each of these outfits has the ability to express an identity to the rest of the world.
Netherlands
This beautiful country,is known for a flat landscape of canals, tulip fields and windmills.
The people of this country, known as the Dutch, have a variety of dresses and suits that vary by region.
However, the wooden shoes worn by the Dutch are a hallmark of the country.
Aside from these shoes, there are many other items of clothing such as the kraplap, a piece of (often heavily starched) cloth worn around the shoulders, pointed and curled, women’s bonnets or the klepbroek, a type of men’s pants, that can be found throughout the country.
Bhutan
Bhutan is a South Asian nation situated on the Himalayas’ eastern edge. This country that gives great importance to environmental protection is known for its monasteries, fortresses and beautiful landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys.
The Bhutanese people, although of different ethnic groups, share common national outfits known as the Gho and Kira. The Gho is the traditional and national dress for men in Bhutan. The Kira which is worn by Bhutanese women, is wrapped and folded around the body and is pinned at both shoulders, usually with silver brooches, and bound at the waist with a long belt.
Yemen
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| Map view of Yemen |
This country where the delicious beverage, coffee is said to have originated is officially known as the Republic of Yemen.
It is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia.
The traditional dress worn by the Yemeni men is known as the Thoob. This is a loose ankle-length garment with long sleeves.
Aside from the Hijab which is the more common garment worn by females of Middle Eastern countries, Yemeni women traditionally wear the Lithma or Bourga’a, which is known by most as a veil.
Tunisia
Well known for its historically rich ruins from the Roman empire and many other tourist attractions, Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. Many people still use traditional garments or separate pieces of a folk outfit in day-to-day life. Although traditional clothing in Tunisia differs according to region, a common suit worn by Tunisian men is the Jebba. This is a long sleeveless tunic worn over a shirt, vest called Farmla and baggy trouser scalled sarouel. They are always belted (with a silk or other belt) to keep them strictly in place. Adorned with different types of jewellery and accessories,Tunisian women wear an outfit that consists of a fouta and a blouza. The fouta is a wrap-around skirt worn from the waist to the ankles, made from cotton or silk. The blouza is a top similar to the bustier.
Iceland
The European country, Iceland, is a Nordic island nation. This nation is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. Massive glaciers are protected in Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull national parks. This nation is also known as ‘The Land of Fire and Ice’ as it is home to some of the largest glaciers in Europe, and some of the world’s most active volcanoes.
The national clothing of the people of Iceland, referred to as ‘Icelanders’ may vary. However, the most popular traditional men’s costume of Iceland is called Þjóðbúningurkarla. It consists of woolen breeches or trousers, a double buttoned vest and a double buttoned jacket known as the Treyja.
The name for the Icelandic women’s national costume is Peysuföt. The Peysuföts are black woolen clothes. They usually consist of a twill skirt and a jacket of fine knitted woolen yarn with a black tail cap.
