Celebrating national costumes and their historic contexts is one way to preserve a country's heritage in an increasingly diverse global community. For some, national heritage days at school let people show-off their ancestral apparel with pride, while others learn about it through social media.
In a divisive international environment, uplifting these unique pieces of material culture that represent just one of the many pieces of our shared histories as human beings living on Earth can be an incredibly moving thing. Learn more about the cultures that are oceans away from you by exploring their national dress.
Romanian Folk Costumes
Romanians take pride in their traditional dress, which showcases their rich textile arts, vibrant attire, and uncomplicated designs. Unlike the popular vampire mythology associated with Romania, their national costumes do not involve vampire capes. Instead, they reflect a deep Eastern European folk style. Due to the presence of diverse regional communities, there is no singular Romanian costume. However, there are several significant garments found across the country that are worth appreciating. One such example is the "le," a decorated three-part shirt worn by women, which beautifully showcases Romania's national embroidery techniques.
Traditional Finnish Costumes
Although Finnish traditional costumes have undergone small changes over the years, their fundamentals were established in the 1500s. Women traditionally wear a long, loose skirt paired with a loose cotton blouse. They also typically wear a vest or a short jacket. For special occasions, scarves and headgear are added to the ensemble. On the other hand, men wear knee-length trousers, a shirt, a vest, and Shoes as part of their traditional costume.
Traditional Scottish Outfit
If you're a fan of Outlander, you're likely familiar with the distinct cultural costumes that the Scots have donned over the years. The knee-length pleated kilt stands out as Scotland's most renowned traditional attire. What adds to its significance is the tradition of incorporating the family tartan, a patterned fabric, to proudly display one's heritage. Complementing this iconic ensemble are the sporran, a furry pouch worn around the waist, and knee socks, which are essential components of the timeless Scottish costume.
Japanese Traditional Dress
One of the most well-known (and also co-opted by the west) East Asian dress styles is the Kimono. The Kimono is the unisex national dress of Japan, worn on formal occasions. It consists of a long undergarment called a nagajuban, a sash called an obi, the obiage, which holds the obi up, baggy sleeves, and a richly colored overdress.
Chinese National Apparel
Alongside the Kimono, Chinas's cheongsam dress is one of the most recognizable national ensembles from the East. This tailored, well-fitting dress of silk or satin fabrics is typically buttoned up to the neck in a short collar, later termed the Mandarin collar in western apparel. Men wear their own Men's T-shirt of the outfit called a changshan, .
If you look back through the decades, you'll see how often the western world has taken these East Asian dress styles and turned them into a mockery. As with so many other national outfits, it's important to remember that these things are culture and not costume.
Indigenous American Pow Wow Apparel 
With so many different tribes, the American indigenous community can't be reduced to a single outfit. However, one place they still showcase their heritage, ancestry, and culture is at pow wows. There are a multitude of different dances that can be performed, and each comes with a traditional costume.
One of these is the Jingle Dress/Prayer Dress. These colorful dresses are stitched with metal cones that clack together as the jingle dancers perform their routines.
Another is the Fancy Dance ensemble. Originating with the Hethuska Society in Oklahoma, this dance is one of the most popular performed at modern pow wows. In the massive plumed outfits you'll find are beaded accessories (headbands, armbands, belts, etc), breastplates, and feather bustles, among many other things.
Ukrainian National Dress
The national clothing for men and boys in the Ukraine consists of a shirt that is embroidered down the front and around the cuffs. This is paired with loose, often satin or highly decorative pants and tied at the waist with a brightly colored cloth.
Women and girls in the Ukraine also wear heavily embroidered blouses, often with a coordinating vest or jacket on top. This is paired with a colorful, Ladies Dresses (including Ladies Dress and Ladies Skirt) that may feature matching embroidery or patterns found on the blouse and jacket.
