People living in folk cultures have traditionally worn clothing in part in response to distinctive agricultural practices and climatic conditions. In popular culture, clothing preferences generally express class, occupation, and other elements of cultural identity, rather than particular environments.

Folk Clothing Preferences

People wear distinctive folk clothing for a variety of environmental and cultural reasons. The folk custom in the Netherlands of wearing wooden shoes may appear quaint, but it still has practical uses in a wet climate (Figure 4-20). In arctic climates, fur-lined boots protect against the cold, and snowshoes permit walking on soft, deep snow without sinking in. People living in warm and humid climates may not need any footwear if heavy rainfall and time spent in water discourage such use. Cultural factors, such as religious beliefs, can also influence clothing preferences (Figure 4-21).

Dutch Shoes

Some Dutch people wear wooden shoes to keep their feet dry on ice and water.

Religion & Clothing

Some Jewish men (a) and Muslim women (b) wear modest black clothes, including head coverings.

increased travel and the diffusion of media have exposed North Americans and Europeans to other forms of dress, just as people in other parts of the world have come into contact with Western dress. The poncho from South America, the dashiki of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, and the Aleut parka have been adopted by people elsewhere in the world. The continued use of folk costumes in some parts of the globe may persist not because of distinctive environmental conditions or traditional cultural values but to preserve cultural identity or to attract tourists.

Wearing traditional clothing in countries dominated by popular culture can be controversial, and conversely so can wearing popular clothing in countries dominated by folk-style clothing. Men in these places must decide whether to wear Western-style suits, especially if they occupy positions of leadership in business or government.

Clothing traditionally worn by women in Southwest Asia & North Africa include loose-fitting combination body covering, head covering, and veil. The burqa covers the entire face and body, leaving a mesh screen to see through. The practice of covering the head is called hijab. The niqab is a veil that covers the bottom half of the face.

The diffusion of Muslims who wear these traditional clothing has been met with contentious responses in places of the world where Western-style women’s clothing is popular. Several countries, including France and Belgium, have restrictions on where women can wear these clothes (Figure 4-22).

Restrictions On Women’S Religious Dress