Folk Costumes

A folk costume (also regional costume, national costume, traditional garment, or traditional regalia) expresses an identity through costume, which is usually associated with a geographic area or a period of time in history. It can also indicate social, marital or religious status. If the costume is used to represent the culture or identity of a specific ethnic group, it is usually known as ethnic costume (also ethnic dress, ethnic wear, ethnic clothing, traditional ethnic wear or traditional ethnic garment). Such costumes often come in two forms: one for everyday occasions, the other for traditional festivals and formal wear.

Following the rise of romantic nationalism, the pre-industrial peasantry of Europe came to serve as models for all that appeared genuine and desirable. Their dresses are crystallized into so-called "typical" forms, and enthusiasts adopted that attire as part of their symbolism.

In areas where Western dress codes have become usual, traditional garments are often worn at special events or celebrations; particularly those connected with cultural traditions, heritage or pride. International events may cater for non-Western attendees with a compound dress code such as "business suit or national dress".

In modern times, there are instances where traditional garments are required by sumptuary laws. In Bhutan, the traditional Tibetan-style clothing of '' gho'' and ''kera'' for men, and '' kira'' and '' toego'' for women, must be worn by all citizens, including those not of Tibetan heritage. In Saudi Arabia, women are also required to wear the abaya in public.

Africa

Central Africa

* Cameroon – Pagne (female), Toghu (male)
* Central African Republic – Pagne
* Democratic Republic of the Congo – Pagne
* Equatorial Guinea – Pano
* Gabon – Pagne
* Republic of the Congo – Pagne
* São Tomé and Príncipe – Pano

Eastern Africa

* Burundi – Imvutano
* Comoros – Lesso (female), Kanzu (male)
* Djibouti – Macawiis (male), Koofiyad (male), Dirac (female), Garbasaar (female); the Afar people have their style of traditional clothing.
* Eritrea – Kidan Habesha (male), Zuria or Habesha kemis (female)
* Ethiopia – Ethiopian suit or Kidan Habesha (male), Habesha kemis (female); each ethnic group has a traditional style of dress.
* Kenya – Does not have a national costume. All tribes have their respective traditional garments, for example: Maasai traditional costume: Kitenge, Kikoi, ''Maasai beadwork''
* Madagascar – Lamba
* Mauritius and Réunion – ''Sega'' dress
* Rwanda – Mushanana
* Seychelles – ''Kanmtole'' dress
* Somalia – Kanzu or Khamiis, Macawiis (male), Kitenge Koofiyad (male), Dirac (female), Guntiino (female), Garbasaar (female)
* Sudan – Jalabiyyah, Taqiyyah, and Turban (male), Toob, a cotton women's dress (female)
* Tanzania – Kanzu and Kofia (male), Kanga (female)
* Uganda – Kanzu and Kofia (male), Gomesi (female), Mushanana (Female - South Western Uganda)

Northern Africa

* Algeria - Burnous, Caftan, Caftan El-Bey, Gandoura, Haïek, Jellaba, Mlaya, Sarouel
** Bikhmar ( Ouargla)
** Blouza ( Oran)
** Chedda ( Tlemcen)
** Chemsa ( Jijel)
** Fergani ( Constantine)
** Gandoura Annabiya (Annaba)
** Ghlila, Karakou, Sarouel Mdawer ( Algiers)
** Labsa M'zabia ( M'zab)
** Labsa Naïlia ( Ouled Naïl)
** Lefa we dlala (Annaba)
** Melhfa Chaouïa ( Aures)
** Melhfa Sahraouia ( Tindouf)
** Qashabiya ( Djelfa et Laghouat), Labsa Kbaylia ( Kabylie)
** Binouar - Sétif
** Labsa Touratia ( Hoggar)
* Egypt – Galabeya
* Libya – Jellabiya, Farmla (an embroidered vest), Fouta
* Morocco – Djellaba, Fez hat and Balgha (male), Takchita (female)
* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – Darra'a (male), Melhfa Sahraouia (female)
* Tunisia – Jebba, Chechia, Fouta

Southern Africa

* Angola – Pano
*Botswana - leteisi and Tshega
* Lesotho – Shweshwe clothing and blankets, Mokorotlo
* Malawi – Chitenje
* Mozambique – Capulana
* Namibia – Herero traditional clothing
* South Africa –
** Sotho: Shweshwe clothing and blankets, Mokorotlo
** Xhosa: Umbhaco
** Zulu: Isicholo
** Afrikaners and Rooineks: slouch hat, safari shirt, veldskoen, knee-high socks, khaki Bermuda shorts or trousers.
* Zambia – Chitenje
* Zimbabwe – Chitenje

Western Africa

* Benin – Dashiki suit and Aso Oke Hat (male), Buba and wrapper set (female)
* Burkina Faso – Batakari (male), Kaftan (female)
* Cape Verde – Pano de terra
* Côte d'Ivoire – Kente cloth (male), Kente kaba and slit set (female)
* Gambia – Boubou (male), Kaftan (female)
* Ghana – Kente cloth or Ghanaian smock and Kufi (male), Kente kaba and slit set (female), Agbada (male)
* Guinea – Boubou (male), Kaftan (female)
* Guinea-Bissau – Ethnic clothes of Guinea-Bissau; for example: Fula: Boubou (male), Kaftan (female)
* Liberia – Dashiki suit and Kufi (male), Buba and skirt set (female)
* Mali – Grand boubou and Kufi (male), Kaftan (female)
* Mauritania – Darra'a (male), Melhfa Sahraouia (female)
* Niger