15 Examples of Traditional Fashion from Around the World

The exotic clothes of the past put modern-day designers to shame.

Published 2 weeks ago in People & Lifestyle

Throughout human history, cultures around the world have all come up with their own fascinating, visually stunning ways of expressing their traditions through clothing.

In the Baltics, people wear massive goat-skin suits to ring in the New Year. Cultures in southern Africa have Mukanda, a male initiation rite in which terrifying but beautiful masks are worn. There's even a dance performed for the Holi festival in northern India where the dancers wear massive flaming headdresses.

Check out what’s being worn across the globe and realize those weird outfits we all see during fashion week are actually pretty tame.

1
Slovenian "Ta Terjast"
Members of the Laufarji Ethnological Society dressed as traditional native characters ahead of the Carnival in Cerkno,

2
An Elephant Mask of Cameroon

3
Mourning Clothes of Gibraltar
4
A traditional mask worn for Mukanda, a male initiation rite in Zimbabwe

5
West African Religious Garb
6
A Traditional Pagan Costume from Romania
7
Voodoo Costume from Western Africa

8
Traditional dance garb of Zambia and Malawi
9
Quetzal dancers of San Andrés, Mexico
10
Traditional Costume from Papa New Guinea

11
Ritual Dress from Uttar Pradesh, northern India
12
Masqueraders of Northern Igbo, Nigeria
13
Bulgarian "Kukeli" Costumes
Costumes made out of goatskin worn to celebrate the New Year.

14
Hungarian "Kukeli" Costumes
Different versions of these costumes are found throughout the region across cultures.
15
South African Tokoloshe Costume
A child dressed as a Tokoloshe, a spirit that supposedly carries people away in the night.