Many tourists don berets to tour Paris or buy colorful Aloha shirts the day they land in Hawaii. Dressing like a local when going somewhere new can be a way to fit in and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the new destination. "Accepting sartorial codes and social customs is a form of recognition and gratitude," said Dennis N. Green, a professor of apparel design at Cornell University, National Geographic reported.
Still, if you're buying and wearing clothing that represents a particular place or people, there's a fine line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. It's no problem to wear a kilt in Scotland, a kimono in Japan or a sari in India, especially for a holiday. But other items, such as a Native American feather hat, a red-and-black-striped shuka cloth from the Maasai tribe in East Africa, can be considered offensive or insensitive.
This is especially true if the garment has religious symbolism. When in doubt, ask before you buy or wear the Egyptian tunic or the Australian Indigenous necklace.
"Wearing something from another culture in a way that demeans, ridicules or mocks it is clearly inappropriate, unethical and malicious," says Green. "On the other hand, wearing a culturally appropriate garment in one's community of origin for a special event such as a wedding or when a certain dress code is expected can be an act of appreciation."
Here are five cultures that invite you to dress up and join the party.
Aloha Shirts: Hawaii
Stroll down Honolulu's Waikiki Beach and you'll find dozens of brightly lit shops stocked with snacks, souvenirs and Aloha shirts. Iconic short-sleeve shirts—often with bright prints (coconut trees, pineapples, sea turtles)—can put anyone in the holiday mood.
But they are also favored by local residents, especially politicians and businessmen. "In Hawaii, Aloha shirts are worn almost everywhere and by everyone," says Chele Pahinui, executive director of the Nā'ālehu Theater on the Big Island of Hawaii. "If you go to a party, almost every man is wearing them."
Aloha shirts appeared on the islands in the 1930s, often made by Japanese immigrants using kimono fabric. Over the years, the fabrics evolved with Hawaii's multi-ethnic community—silk from Chinese immigrants, rice sacks from Japanese immigrants, and palaka, a plaid introduced by English sailors in the 18th and 19th centuries. Prints began to reflect Hawaiian culture: canoes, rainbows, surfers.
Kaftans: North Africa and the Middle East
Kaftans, described in the Bible as garments that fall below the knees, were worn as far back as ancient Mesopotamia (present-day Turkey, Syria and Iraq). Usually long-sleeved and unbuttoned, these garments were worn by sultans and high-ranking officials during the Ottoman Empire between the 14th and 18th centuries. In the 16th century, they migrated to North Africa (Morocco, Algeria).
Today, men and women in the Middle East, North Africa and Senegal wear kaftans in a variety of styles, from formal (silk, velvet) to casual (wool that protects against desert dust). In 2023, Algeria and Morocco nominated the garment for inclusion in UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Kebaya: Southeast Asia
World travelers may recognize the kebaya - a jacket-like blouse with a built-in panel - as part of the uniform worn by flight attendants on Singapore or Malaysia Airlines. It is thought to be a shortened descendant of the caftan from the Middle East, but it came to Southeast Asia via sea trade routes and was popular among women for its modest style. "The kebaya is very important to our multicultural community in Singapore and Southeast Asia," says Ratiana Tahir, owner of Kebaya by Ratianah in Singapore. "She is often worn to formal special events and weddings."
Throughout Southeast Asia, kebayas are made in a variety of shapes, silhouettes, and fabrics. In 2023, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand jointly nominated the traditional blouse for inclusion in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Guayaberas: Latin America
If you're going to a fiesta, wedding, or other party in Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, or South Florida, chances are you'll see someone wearing a linen or cotton guayabera shirt. Button-down shirts have pointed collars, four pockets (two on the chest and two on the waist) and embroidered pleats or gussets.
Fresh shirts probably first appeared in the 18th century, but their exact origins are unclear. Was the first guayabera made for a farmer (those pockets seem perfect for seeds or tools), or did it derive from a Spanish military uniform? Although the Cuban revolution of 1959 temporarily ended the passion for shirts on that island, they immigrated to Florida.
The small town of Tequit in the Mexican state of Yucatan is known as the guayabera capital. Many of its residents make the shirts in family workshops, and every summer the annual Guayabera Fair attracts thousands of visitors interested in fashion.
"San Antonino" dresses: Mexico and Texas
Embroidered with flowers and jagged leaves, colorful San Antonino dresses fill the historic market square in downtown San Antonio, Texas. A ubiquitous presence at Texas parties, especially the annual San Antonio Spring Fiesta, the dresses get their name from San Antonino Castillo Velasco, Mexico, the picturesque town in Oaxaca where they are made.
"There are so many little details put into dresses and blouses," says Tressa Castro, owner of a boutique in San Antonio, Texas. "They are nicknamed hazme si puedes, or do me if you can, because of their complexity."
Travel to San Antonio or Oaxaca and you'll see the dresses and blouses of tourists, locals and even Day of the Dead dancers. "You shouldn't have any reservations about wearing a San Antonino dress," says Castro. "It helps keep artisans working." /BGNES