The typical costume of Nariño is called ñapanga and comes from the Quechua word «llapangua», which means «barefoot». This term served to designate the men and women of the peasant communities.
The typical costumes of the Nariño department are characterized by the use of thick fabrics and the use of coats to cover themselves from the cold.
In the coastal areas, the costumes maintain similar characteristics in terms of shape and cut, but using fresher fabrics and substituting hats for women with light scarves to cover the hair.
The department of Nariño is part of the Andean and Pacific regions of Colombia. The city of San Juan de Pasto is its capital.
Origin
The typical costume of Nariño has its roots in the informal dress of the Spanish conquerors, adding some Amerindian elements such as wool coats.
The indigenous communities had to adjust their clothing to the precepts established by the Spanish community residing in the new population.
The name ñapangua, coming from the Quechua word "llapangua", refers to a barefoot person.
This has a social connotation that describes the living conditions of the inhabitants. The absence of shoes in an individual did not respond to an aesthetic taste.
Wearing shoes was a cost that very few people could afford. In fact, espadrilles were used to go to mass or for special events, and in no way could they be worn on a daily basis.
Only Spanish or wealthy families who enjoyed a moderately accepted social status could have worn shoes on a daily basis.
The idea that the ñapanga was a costume directly representative of the common citizen that in past centuries inhabited Nariño emerges.
Main features
The typical costume called ñapanga was commonly used for parties or formal occasions. In the present it is the one used to identify the old suits of the department.
Female suit
The typical female Nariño costume is a long woven skirt called a bolsicón or saya, usually in dark colors and tight at the waist. It has velvet adhesions in the pockets and in the decorative embroidery or borders.
The shirt is generally white, also embroidered with flowers. Over this a shawl with tassels or fringes is worn, or also a ruana.
In their hair they wear a bow adorned with a headdress or a cloth hat. To cover the feet they use fique espadrilles without loop or black shoes.
Male suit
In the case of men, the suit consists of a long-sleeved white shirt in cold areas, or a short-sleeved shirt for the coast. They wear dark cloth pants, a ruana and espadrilles or shoes.
Informal dress
The distinction between formal and informal attire in the department of Nariño basically lay in the disuse of shoes or espadrilles. In the case of the ladies, the shirts and pockets could not have decorative embroidery.
In the coastal areas, informal clothing for women was a dress of fresh fabric and light colors, and a hair scarf or cloth hat.
The men wore light, baggy pants, a light-colored sleeveless shirt, and their customary hat. Neither the man nor the woman wore shoes.
References
- J, Ocampo. (2006). Colombian folklore, customs and traditions. Bogotá: Plaza & Janes. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: books.google.es
- J, Moreno. (1961). The typical Colombian costumes. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: banrepcultural.org
- M, Uribe. (1986). Ethnohistory of the pre-Hispanic Andean communities of southern Colombia. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: unal.edu.co
- J, Uribe. (2001). History of Colombian culture. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: uniandes.edu.co
- Nariño wardrobe. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: sinic.gov.co