Top 20+ Beautiful National Costumes From All Over The World
Wearing Culture On Your Sleeve

The world is home to a thousands of cultures, each with their own rich traditions and heritage. National costume, or folk dress, is clothing worn as a statement of a cultural identity. There are too many cultures to highlight in just one article, so we've chosen 20 of our favorites from almost every continent—sorry, Antarctica!
1. Dashiki

One of the most iconic national costumes, the dashiki is a colorful garment worn throughout West Africa. Dashikis are unisex shirts or dresses made of colorful cotton to keep comfy and cool. Many members of the African diaspora in the west have embraced the dashiki as a way of reclaiming their roots.
2. Herero Clothing

The Herero are an ethnic group primarily residing in Namibia. Their national dress for women blends 19th-century western silhouettes with vivid prints and colors. No Herero outfit is complete with the distinctive otjikaiva headdress, which evokes life-sustaining cattle.
3. Maasai Beadwork

The Maasai are one of the most recognizeable cultures of East Africa and are known for their elaborate beadwork. Using resplendant red fabric and hundreds of intricate beeds, Maasai clothing symbolizes a person's place not only within a culture, but within their community.
4. Chedda of Tlemcen

For women of western Algeria, the chedda is the most beautiful dress they will ever wear. A chedda consists of a velvet kaftan adorned with gold thread and pearls, along with a conical hat somewhat similar to a beret. Chedda in the city of Tlemcen are considered intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
5. Sari

Called "the nine meter wonder", the sari (or saree) is worn throughout the Indian subconintent. Because it is so widely worn, the sari is known for its' versatility and vibrance. A single length of cotton or silk is arranged over the body in a dress, with a simple blouse worn underneath.
6. Áo Dài

Vietnam's national dress, áo dài transformed from court garments to high fashion to school uniform. Similar to a kurta or salwar kameez, áo dài consists of a long split tunic with matching pants underneath. While versions may be worn by men, this costume is associated with Viet femininity.
7. Deel

A deel is a garment somewhat like an overcoat worn by Mongolian men and women. Mongols who continue traditional herding practices often wear deels which contain large pockets for storing objects. Fashionable and functional!
8. Keffiyah

Keffiyahs are worn mostly by men throughout the Arab world, however the black-and-white Palestinian keffiyah is among the most iconic. The olive leaves represent strength, the fishnet represents the Mediterranean Sea, and the bold lines represent trade routes such as the Silk Road. The keffiyah is an enduring symbol of Palestinian perseverance.
9. Kilt

While kilts may have been anachronistically worn in Braveheart, they originated in the 16th-century Scottish highlands. These pleated knee-length garments were originally worn as a a hybrid cloak-skirt by men, though a female variation is used for traditional dancing. The kilt is normally orn for formal or cultural events.
10. Gákti

Gákti refers to a number of different clothing items worn by Sámi people in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Worn both in ceremonial and professional contexts, gákti celebrates the long tradition of reindeer herding in both its materials, and its use. Traditional Sámi outfits have bands of contrasting colors along with pewter and tin accents.
11. Vyshyvanka

Vyshyvankas are one of the best-known symbols of Ukrainian culture. A vyshyvanka is an embroidered shirt used as both as talisman of protection and a means of identification. The embroidery used on a vyshyvanka is so distinct from region to region, that a person could tell where the wearer is from at a glance.
12. Jingle Dress

The origin of the jingle dress is attributed to three different Anishinaabe communities around the Great Lakes. A staple of modern powwows, the jingle dress is sacred to women and used as part of a healing dance. The regalia is made in "healthy" colors such as red and green, and adorned with over a hundred metal cones.
13. Ceinture Fléchée

The ceinture fléchée is a sash worn by French and Métis Canadians, those of mixed French and Indigenous descent. Also called an Arrowhead sash, this sash iss finger-woven into elaborate zigzag patterns. Not just for show, ceinture fléchées were used to help shoulder weight or keep coats closed during chilly Canadian winters.
14. Charro Suit

Historically, "charro" referred to horsemen of the Mexican countryside, but these outfits can be worn by any gender. Charro suits were intended as riding outfits with sombreros, embroidered jackets, and tight pants for men, or full skirts for women. Today, charro suits are most commonly associated with mariachi performers.
15. Gaucho Costume

Similar to the charro, the Argentine gaucho is a skilled horseman, albeit a little more unruly. Gaucho outfits vary by region and by climate, but the most common elements are loose-fitting trousers, a cotton shirt, and a poncho. Of course, we can't forget the traditional horse boots either.
16. Poncho

Speaking of ponchos, these blankets keep the Indigenous peoples of South America warm at high altitudes. Using alpaca wool, ponchos shield their wearers from cold, wind, and even sandstorms, and may have originated among the Inca and Nazca people of Peru
17. Koto

In Suriname, which has a large African diaspora population, the Koto is a canvas of self-expression for Creole women. The Koto likely arose following colonial mandates in the late 19th century which required modest dress for women in public. The Koto's unique layering and folding techniques can be used to quite literally send a message to passersby.
18. Possum Cloak

Australia may have no designated national costumes, but the possum cloaks worn by the Aboriginal inhabitans of south-east Australia come clothes. Cloaks were, unsurprisingly, made from numerous possum pelts sewn together with kangaroo sinew, and decorated with clan insignias on the inside. As Aboriginal people were dispossessed of their land, the possum skin cloaks fell out of use, and are now mainly seen in museums.
19. Piupiu

For a more modern example of folk costume, look no further than the piupiu worn by New Zealand Māori. Piupiu are woven type of flax skirt worn around the waist or draped across one shoulder. The captain of the battlecruiser HMS New Zealand was gifted a piupiu to wear during battle and did not lose a single man during the First World War.
20. Pareo

A pareo is a warparound skirt worn throughout Polynesia, specifically in Tahiti. The term was originally applied to women's skirts, but has evolved to mean any wrapped cloth worn by anybody. Tahitian pareo are renowned for their bright colors and hibiscus patterns.