CLOTHING FROM THE CARIBBEAN REGION OF COLOMBIA: CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The wardrobe of the Caribbean region of Colombia consists of very soft and fresh clothes, due to the hot weather conditions and high humidity in this part of the country. This dress is designed with very bright and cheerful colors.

The men wear linen trousers and a white or warm-colored shirt, which are combined with a «vueltiao» hat (because of the way it is braided) and a red «tail and cock» scarf.

Women often wear low-cut blouses with open shoulders and wide skirts in bright colors, patterned with pictures and decorated with appliqués and ribbons. These skirts end in a ruffle at the bottom.

Traditional costumes

Traditional costumes are used in popular festivals and fairs, also in music or dance festivals that take place throughout the year in different places in the region. The typical costumes vary according to the musical rhythm or the dance that is executed.

1- Costumes of the cumbia

Women

Women wear a soft, low-cut top with ruffles on the sleeves and lower waist, although this may vary.

They also wear a wide skirt finely decorated with appliques and ribbons, usually finished in a ruffle at the bottom.

They usually wear their hair in a bun, which is decorated with a small bouquet of red flowers. They also wear jewelry and accessories.

Women's footwear can be baletas, which are made of canvas fabric and flat leather soles.

mens

The men's wardrobe consists of a white long-sleeved shirt and white pants, rolled up at the ankles. They wear the traditional straw hat and a red scarf tied around the neck.

They carry a small bag or backpack with brightly colored horizontal stripes slung over the shoulder and across the chest.

They wear shoes called encompasses three stitches of raw leather or rubber, which only cover the soles of the feet. They secure this shoe on the instep and ankle with straps.

2- Vallenato wardrobe

Women

The traditional piloneras dress for the vallenato dance consists of a cotton skirt, with small flower prints. It is long and curly, with washers in the hem and finished with lace.

The top piece is a bodice with three-quarter sleeves that is adjusted to the waist, from which another ring similar to that of the skirt comes out that falls on the hips.

mens

The men wear linen trousers, a white shirt, and a red scarf tied around the neck. When they do not wear the "vueltiao" hat, they also wear a headdress or cap, which is adorned with flowers of various colors made of paper.

3- Joint wardrobe

Women

Women wear a simple mid-calf skirt with little flare and a low-cut, sleeveless top without grommets.

Both pieces are in bright or pastel colors. They also wear head ornaments such as bouquets of flowers, combs or headbands, and wear sandals or grannies.

mens

The men wear a white long-sleeved shirt with a high collar and cuffs, or also a guayabera and liqui liqui. They fit you cover three stitches and wear the hat «vueltiao».

The trousers are made of denim or gabardine, generally white or ocher, and have a straight boot with a heel or hem.

4- Wuayú clothing

The indigenous women of the Wuayú ethnic group who live in the department of La Guajira wear very colorful blankets, which are combined with sandals and wool tassels.

The men are almost always barefoot and wear guayucos or loincloths with a sash. They adorn their heads with a woven cap or carracha of many colors, ending in a peacock feather in the center.

References

1. Traditional costumes of the Cumbia. Retrieved on October 18, 2017 from solocumbia.com
2. The Caribbean Region. Consulted from colombia.com
3. The joint inside. Consulted of andreaseohanes.blogspot.com
4. Caribbean Region (Colombia). Consulted of es.wikipedia.org
5. Choreo-musical folklore of the Colombian Caribbean (PDF) Recovered from scolartic.com
6. The Caribbean Region. Consulted of colombiapatrimoniocultural.wordpress.com
7. Everything about cumbia. Mayor of El Banco. "Festival de la Cumbia - El Banco Magdalena". Retrieved October 18, 2017.