TYPICAL COSTUMES OF THE PACIFIC REGION OF COLOMBIA - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical costumes of the Pacific region of Colombia are part of a culture very rich in Afro-Colombian traditions. Many of them are still used regularly by the inhabitants of the departments of Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Chocó.

These costumes are part of the typical traditions of the region. Its main influence is in the customs of the African race when dressing during the colonial period.

These are usually simple garments made of soft fabrics. The costumes vary according to the area and the needs of the community: they range from fine silk shirts ideal for fishing, to thick wool clothing to withstand the cold of the Andean Cordillera.

Typical costumes of the departments of the Pacific region of Colombia

Narino

Women living on the Pacific shores often wear cool white dresses or skirts, and short-sleeved blouses, with a headscarf. The men wear white pants and shirts without wearing footwear.

Instead, the inhabitants of temperate regions wear a black skirt, a white blouse and a cloth hat. The men wear baggy dark-colored pants, white shirts, a ruana, black shoes, and a woolen hat.

The ñapanga is the typical costume that women wear for dances: embroidered blouse of different colors, baize skirt, petticoat, a ribbon bow, large candongas, shawl with fringes that knot around the shoulders, espadrilles with upholstery in thread colors and cloth hat.

Cauca

In the department of Cauca, women wear blouses with black shawls, skirts that vary in thickness depending on how cold or hot prevails in the area, colored anacos and colorful necklaces.

In cold areas they wear boots with colorful socks and wear black hats. In temperate zones they wear woven espadrilles with rubber soles and wear flowery dresses, and in warmer zones the tradition is to go barefoot and wear Iraqi or cloth hats.

Men wear canvas shorts or cloth pants, depending on how hot or cold the area is. The tradition is to wear white silk shirts and not wear shoes.

Cauca's Valley

In this area, women generally wear low-cut cotton blouses decorated with striking embroidery, long bell-shaped skirts, black cordovan shoes and colorful necklaces.

The men wear straw hats, long-sleeved cotton shirts, white denim pants, and leather sandals.

Collided

In the department of Chocó, the typical costumes for women are colorful dresses and long skirts, sometimes decorated with bells and rattles. They are used in typical dances such as currulao.

The men wear white silk or cotton shirts and dark colored shorts, commonly made of denim. They wear a short-brimmed straw hat and do not usually wear shoes.

References

1. Typical costume of the Pacific Region. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from Viaje Jet: viajejet.com
2. Nariño wardrobe. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from Sinic: sinic.gov.co
3. Cauca wardrobe. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from Sinic: sinic.gov.co
4. Valle del Cauca wardrobe. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from Sinic: sinic.gov.co
5. Chocó wardrobe. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from Sinic: sinic.gov.co