8 Lovely Peruvian Traditional Clothing 

Peru has a very long and rich history in the production of textiles. It was a very important craft for the Peruvians. Clothing was in fact one of the most valued items for the Peruvians, especially during the Inca period, when clothing was made from cotton or wool.

Clothing is a very important aspect of a man’s life. Aside from the fact that clothing is meant to provide shelter and keep the body warm. Clothing is used as a way of expressing one’s identity and as a way of expressing one’s social status and many people want to make a fashion statement with their clothing. This is why so many people put so much effort into making beautiful clothes because people want to wear clothes that make them look good.

Clothing is not just about all that has been mentioned above; one of the important things that clothing signifies is culture. Culture is one thing that defines and identifies a people or country. The culture of a people includes their food, language and even the way they dress. You can tell the native origin of a person by the way they dress.

This is why every country has its own traditional clothing. Talking about Peruvian traditional clothing, their traditional clothing is one of the traditional attires that stands out today. The Peruvian traditional clothes are stylish and they come with an excellent blend of flavors.

Peruvian traditional clothing is an expression of the country’s diverse cultural heritage, with each region having it’s own unique style. This is why, in Peruvian traditional clothing, the styles may differ from each other. However, each of these regional clothing styles comes together to create a fusion of what we call Peruvian traditional clothing.

However, one major influence on Peruvian traditional clothing is the Inca impact; they played a very significant role in the development of Peruvian traditional clothing. This is why we will briefly consider the Inca impact on Peruvian traditional clothing.

Clothing During the Inca Empire

The Inca period can be traced back as early as the 12th century AD. The capital of the Incas was in Cuzco, a place that can be found today in the Southern region of Peru.  The Incas were known for making beautiful clothing designs that were made of wool and cotton.  Most of the clothes that were made during the period were clothes that could protect them from harsh climates and keep them warm.

One of the clothes that was made during this period is the poncho, which is worn during cold weather to give the body warmth. They were made from wool gotten from animals. They made other clothing items, such as gloves and blankets, using wool.

The Incas King attire closet resembles the ones worn by the elite members of society. He is usually dressed in tunic woven from wool or cotton, usually decorated with feathers or gold thread. Also, he would wear a cloak embellished with feathers or gold thread and sandals, along with a headdress adorned with precious jewels, as his customary ensemble.

The nobles in the society referred to as the Inca nobility during this period also had their own unique style and way of dressing. Their clothing was part of the way their wealth or the position they occupied in society was displayed. Their clothes were made with colorful fabrics and beautified using gold and silver threading to show that they were not in the same social class as the poor members of society.

8 Lovely Peruvian Traditional Clothing

There are diverse traditional clothing styles in Peru that are made from beautiful and colorful fabrics. The traditional clothing of the Peruvian comes in different styles and designs, each serving different needs for different occasions or events. Here are some of the Peruvian traditional clothing below.

1. Pollera

A type of Peruvian traditional clothing known as the pollera is a native attire worn by the Peruvians. The polleria has been in existence since the colonial era.

Polleras are wide skirts made of many colorful layers that are designed using beautiful embroidery. They are handwoven and made from a wool known as bayeta. The pollera can be worn by women to different events, such as weddings and other festive events.

The style of a woman’s pollera can easily determine the village or region the wearer is from. The pollera has continued to remain relevant attire in the fashion world as women continue to wear it at different events, even though there may have been a slight adjustment.

2. Lliclla

Lliclla  is Peruvian traditional clothing native to the Quechua of the Andres region in Peru. Also known as Manta It’s a type of female hangover cloth made with fancy embroidery. It is used on top of a garment to cover the chest and shoulders. It’s fastened together at the front using tupu- a form of decorated pin that is found in front of the cloth.

It can also be used by both men and women to carry loads. Women can use it to carry children on their backs. Larger mantas are referred to as k’eperinas when employed for moving goods.

3. Jobona

Another popular traditional garment found among the Peruvians is the Jobona, which means a wool jacket worn beneath the lliclla. It’s handwoven and made from wool or Alpaca fiber. This jacket is usually worn by women and it is usually decorated with colorful buttons. It is worn beneath the llicla

4. Chumpi

Chumpis are part of Peruvian traditional clothing. It is a waist belt made from Quenchuan fabric. This cloth is symbolic and has a cultural interpretation. It is always given to mothers who have just given birth and it’s a representation of fertility. It is also used to perform spiritual functions, as it is used to enter into a state of trance to connect with the spiritual realm.

4. Montera

Montera is derived from a Quechua word known as hat. It’s a brimless hat made of wool. It was worn by men and women and its origin can be traced to the pre-Inca civilization period. Originally, these hats were worn by people of higher status or nobles, as a display of their position and wealth.

5. Ojota

In the Andes region of Peru, ojota is a popular shoe. They are made from recycled tyres. They are very comfortable and long lasting and they could mostly be found being worn by farmers.

6.Poncho

Ponchos are Peruvian traditional clothing made from wool. They are warm clothes that usually come in radiant colors and beautiful designs. Peruvians wear them as part of their traditional clothing.

These clothes are important to people who dwell in the mountains of Peru because they provide warmth in the cold mountain air. They are also worn during special events to perform special dances during ceremonies like chullo dances, where Peruvians wear colorful ponchos while they dance in circles.

7. Chullo

The culture of wearing hats has been a cultural practice in the Andean region of Peru for many years. Chullo is a type of hat that is found among the Andeans. It comes with ear flaps, which are tied by the wearer at the jaw to prevent cold. It’s made from alpaca or sheep’s wool. It comes in different colorful designs.

8.  Chuspas

Another traditional attire that one will find in Peru is the Chuspas. Chuspas are bags or pouches with fine decorations that are used to store coca leaves, which are considered important to the Andeans and a major part of their culture. When worn, they are suspended near the waist and positioned beneath the wearer’s tight arm.

Conclusion

The Inca had so much influence on Peruvian traditional clothing. This period was when many of the traditional clothes in Peru were invented and it had such an impact on their style.

Also, another factor that had an impact on the traditional clothing of the Peruvians was the climatic factor. As we can see, many of the clothes that were made and worn by people who resided in the mountain area were made from wool, which can keep them protected from the cold.

It won’t be wrong for us to say that Peruvian traditional clothing is known for its beautiful pieces of attire. Their clothing usually comes in vibrant colors. The clothes of every region of Peru define the unique identity of that region. The Peruvians are proud of their traditional clothes which are still worn today in Peru and other countries.