The clothing of the coast of Peru is characterized by the use of scarves and skirts made of cotton, silk skirts for use in dances, tunics, shirts, rubber shoes and finally the hat made of straw to protect from the sun.
The Peruvian people have a culture that loves crafts, which is reflected in many aspects of their daily lives. Many of the typical costumes and clothing for festive events, even those for daily use, are made by hand today.
Typical costume from the coast of Peru
Color, joy and diligence distinguish the beautiful clothing of the inhabitants of the coast of Peru. The costumes on the coast of Peru are closely related to the beautiful colors and handcrafted forms of the entire country.
As is logical, the higher temperatures force the fabrics to be cooler and at the same time remove some trappings. These pieces are described below by gender.
Womenswear
The female costumes of the coast of Peru have at least four fundamental pieces; the skirt, the shirt, the hat and the scarf or cloth for the shoulders.
The cloth is one of the most important pieces of the wardrobe. The purpose of its use, in addition to being decorative, is utilitarian. They go by various names:
- The llica is the cloth most frequently used in the villages.
- The k'eperina and the awayu have a larger dimension and are used to transport babies or some objects such as a bag.
- The unkuna, which is used to transport food.
The hats may or may not have the presence of colors, they are generally straw and are a fundamental part of the wardrobe. During dances, like the marinera, they are used as an expressive element in each movement.
The shirts generally of light colors, have adhesions of embroidery and lace on the cuffs and on the front.
The skirts called polleras or melkkhay, are made with cotton for daily use and are used for dances, thus they acquire more movement with each step.
They are also present floral or geometric decorative elements, and very striking colors especially for use in traditional dances.
In addition to these pieces, ponchos, dresses, tunics and blankets are very frequently used.
Men's clothes
For men the hat is a fundamental element. In the case of the coast, the most common is pirua, made with palm leaves and white in color. Straw can also be used.
The shoes, just like how women wear it, are made of rubber, similar to a sandal. They are called ajotas and are handmade in the houses, being their cost is very low.
The pants are made of simple and fresh fabrics. For the upper part they use shirts, vests, sweaters and scarves.
References
- Murua, M; Gaibrois, M. (1987). General history of Peru. Retrieved on December 20, 2017 from: espeleokandil.org
- Pita, J. (2015). Museum of costume and festivities of Peru. Retrieved on December 20, 2017 from: upc.edu.pe
- Urbano, S. (2017). Typical clothing of Peru. Retrieved on December 20, 2017 from: actualviajes.com
- Culture of Peru. Retrieved on December 20, 2017 from: es.wikipedia.org
- Rostworowski, M. (1977). Ethnicity and society: Peruvian coast. Lima: Institute of Peruvian Studies.