TYPICAL ECUADORIAN SIERRA CLOTHING (8 ETHNIC GROUPS) - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The traditional dress in the Ecuadorian highlands consists of very popular ancestral costumes and frequently used by the Indians. Each town has its characteristic costume that distinguishes it from the others, being the otavalos clothing the most prominent and common in the country.

As for the dresses used by the women of the mountains, they are very particular, the skirts are very large, embroidered, pleated and made of brightly colored wool. They use what is known as “anaco”, which has been the clothing made up of a piece of cloth with which they wrap the body, starting from the waist to the knees, accompanied by an embroidered band crossed at the waist level.

The blouses are also embroidered at the hems and are made with multi-colored glossy fabrics and sometimes white. Each community is said to have its own variations in its clothing and accessories.

Their hair is always tied with embroidered belts, a tail-shaped hairstyle is made on the back of the head with another embroidered sash and they usually wear a shawl made of wool, which they use to carry objects and their babies in your back.

For their part, men stand out for wearing midi pants with generally white shirts. Similarly, as footwear they wear sandals made of fabric fiber, known as espadrilles.

Both men and women wear hats and scarves but for special occasions, the model depends on the music or dances they have to represent.

As for the ponchos, men and women wear them in very varied colors, their size varies between long or short, according to their taste.

Clothing used by the ethnic groups that inhabit the Ecuadorian highlands

1- The natabuelas

The men's suit is made up of a sleeveless shirt, very wide both in length and width, and the pants are made with cloth fabrics.

Among their wardrobe they usually keep two or three ponchos that they wear daily and on special occasions, the usual espadrilles and their white hat very typical of this ethnic group.

For their part, the women on their heads wear a piece of woolen cloth known by the names melafacha, anaco or fachalina in blue or black.

The shirts are very long of cloth or dacron embroidered on the chest and sleeves, a ribbon that they embroider with different colors and in their shoes they use the traditional espadrilles.

2- The otavalos

Women wear a very elegant suit for special occasions consisting of a long white fabric shirt, decorated at chest level with figures embroidered by hand based on floral motifs of various colors.

These shirts have shoulder pads and lace is placed on both the back, neckline and sleeves, two anacos made of cloth are also placed, one in white and the other in navy blue or black.

These anacos are rectangular pieces of fabric that simulate a skirt and are fastened with a ribbon called chumbicomo, they are placed one on top of the other which is generally wider in size and its color is red.

The tapes are about 2.70 to 3.30 meters long and 3.5 to 4.5 centimeters wide. Wider ribbons always have an additional picturesque theme.

The clothing of the women of the Peruvian highlands is complemented by the use of many gold-colored necklaces, bracelets made of plastic, rings and earrings that have large stones of many colors.

They also wear a cloak called fachalina that is tied around their shoulders made in turquoise and fuchsia colors. Ribbons are tied in their hair with which they wrap the hair in the form of braids.

For their part, indigenous men wear simpler things in their clothing, consisting of a hat made of cloth which reveals their long hair woven into a braid as an attribute of their indigenous identity.

His pants are usually short white, accompanied by a simple shirt, almost always white because sometimes their colors vary.

The wool ponchos are used to protect themselves from the inclement weather both when there are waves of cold and heat, preferably they are designed in dark blue and white espadrilles.

3- The zuletas

Their costumes are very indigenous even today. The women wear embroidered blouses, pleated skirts up to 5 meters wide, a canvas hat, necklaces and plush espadrilles.

4- The Kayambis

Like the zuletas, they keep their original costumes, made up of a hat and pochos in red colors, the traditional white pants, espadrilles and ribbons in their hair.

5- The zumbahuas

As for the men, they wore white wool pants and shirts, made by hand in their ethnic groups, a red poncho, a scarf and a wool hat. Today, they wear shoes made of leather material and pants made by specialists.

As for the women, they still use their black wool coats, pieces of wool, earrings designed from very old coins, and their braided hair.

6- The quisapinchas

Their original costumes are kept throughout time in adults, with their frequent red ponchos with fringes on the edges, white pants and small hats. Young people for their part choose to dress in an updated way.

7- The shibuleos

The women of this ethnic group wear black anacos to symbolize the earth, accompanied by a white hat, shirts embroidered with multicolored floral figures to honor Mother Nature.

In the same way, men wear red ponchos that for them signify the blood that was shed by their ancestors.

They also wear their traditional white hat that, like their shirts and pants, are a symbol of the purity of the people.

8- The Salasacas

The women are dedicated to making clothing through looms, with woolen materials, totally handmade except for one-piece dresses, known as cushma.

Men, for their part, are dedicated to the craft of weaving and dyeing clothing. His clothing is made up of a white wool shirt and pants, wide-brimmed hats and the traditional espadrilles.

References

1. Arias, L. (2015) Tourist Costumes of the Ecuadorian Sierra. Recovered from: es.scribd.com.
2. Social Sciences Blog. (2013) Vestments of Ecuador. Recovered from: bitacoracienciassocialestercerobat.blogspot.com.
3. Ecured (2016) Typical Costumes. Recovered from: ecured.cu.
4. Kickwa Dictionary (2014) Kichwa. Recovered from: kichwas.com.
5. Markwell, M. (1989) Ritual, popular memory and political process in the Ecuadorian Sierra. University Publishing House. Quito. Ecuador.
6. Regions of Ecuador (2016) Vestimenta de la Sierra. Recovered from: Regióndelentaciónor.blogspot.com.