Clothing is more than a fashion statement, it is a reflection of one’s cultural identity. How come? Well, think of the many countries around the globe and its people.
There are so many cultures out there, and each and every one has its own history, values, beliefs and traditions, all of which create a unique diversity that uniquely sets it apart from the rest of the world in some way.
With this approach, you’re giving clothes much more meaning beyond what they’re originally intended for. Colors, symbols, ornaments, shapes … all these factors (and more) help create a statement piece that connects the person wearing it with their roots.
With the rise of technological advancement and transportation, the world became so much smaller, which resulted in cities becoming a rich mixture of various identities. Statement clothing can help people express themselves among the buzzing crowd and stand out.
Let’s dive a bit deeper into this to find out the HOW and the WHY!
The Role of Clothing in Cultural Identity
People always had the need to connect to their ancestry, and clothing with details like tribal affiliations or colors that represent their nation is helping them manage to do so. Clothes can communicate social status, historical narratives and even political stances, and many cultures are successfully using textiles and design to achieve that.
- Japan: Do you know anyone who never heard about the kimono? Probably not, because the kimono is a symbol of Japanese elegance and tradition.
- Scotland: Scotland is known worldwide for their kilt. It is a skirt usually worn by men, and it is an iconic symbol of national pride.
- India: India has the sari and kurta. It is a traditional piece of clothing but it managed to stay popular for everyday wearing until this day. Sari and kurta also represent regional and religious identities.
- Mexico: The rebozo, a woven shawl, is special for every woman in Mexico. Through their history, it represented femininity and resilience.
As you can see, each of these garments has helped to preserve tradition, and it has been passed down for generations.
Patriotism and Fashion: A Global Perspective
Patriotic clothing never gets out of fashion because there are many people around the world who love to wear clothing that shows how proud they are of their nation. The most common way is through symbols, colors or slogans.
When it comes to how people usually like to make a patriotic statement through clothing, two ways are the most usual ones — traditional clothing and modern fashion with patriotic undertones.
| Country | Traditional Patriotic Attire | Modern Patriotic Apparel |
| United States | Military-inspired fashion, stars and stripes motifs | T-shirts, hats, and jackets with details like national flags, and slogans. |
| France | Berets and blue-white-red accents | Casual wear with subtle flag embroidery |
| China | Red garments as symbols of prosperity and unity | Olympic and national sportswear |
| Brazil | National colors on carnival outfits | Soccer jerseys for everyday wear |
In the U.S., patriotic fashion is really unique, where citizens like to blend elements of history with some contemporary trends. Apparel for U.S. patriots usually has symbols like the Bald Eagle, the Constitution, and of course, their favorite U.S. flag.
Cultural Pride in a Globalized World
A great term for fashion that goes beyond someone’s culture and tradition is multicultural fashion. If you don’t know what it is, here is a simple explanation. The great thing about cultural identities is that they blend through travel and migration. In that way, people usually adopt some fashion elements from other traditions. That doesn’t mean that they don’t honor their own.
To the contrary, a blend of different traditions is the real beauty that spreads worldwide and that is called multicultural fashion.
Multicultural fashion brands create a platform in which people can express their identities and pride in their heritage as they live in a contemporary world. For example, up-and-coming designers with mixed heritages are integrating traditional designs into their everyday wear, blurring boundaries with the likes of Western streetwear with African prints or contemporary fashions adorned with indigenous designs.
Such an amalgamation of designs not only expresses personal identity but also largely helps cultivate cultural appreciation and awareness.
The Future of Symbolic Fashion
Fashion is obviously one of the major pathways through which people have been accepting their culture of origin. Via traditional attire or modern clothes inspired by their ethnicity, an individual narrates the past and present occlusion. Because the world is connecting, fashion will increasingly honor the past since the past will continue onward as a proud story to be retold in the future.
Conclusion
Clothes are clothes. Of course, they have their primary purpose of keeping us warm and non-naked. But when you personalize that clothing item with specific colors, patterns, shapes, ornaments, text, etc., you’re creating a statement.
In this article, we’ve taken a closer look at how different cultures use clothes in order to express themselves culturally. One’s roots are not to be forgotten; they’re important. Clothing can help us keep that connection, and serve as a reminder of who we are and where we come from. Also, you’re showing the rest of the world, without one spoken word, your true self.
By acknowledging the significance behind our choices in clothing, we honor diversity, celebrate heritage and continue the story of those who came before us.
