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South Africa is made up of a diverse mix of African, Europen, and Asian people. Each of these groups have destinctive dress and garments. Although it is primarily the European (most;y English) styles that became standard. Amerian styles became important for casual wear in the 1970s. At this time we do not have any information on African traditional garments. Here there are differences from tribe to tribe. It was the English who came to dominate South Africa and as a result, English clothing styles became the accepted standard in South Africa, among the Afrikaaners and the Afrocans who could aford them. Even after the Afrikanner Nationalist Party gained control of South Africa, it was English fashions that predominated in South Africa. We note relaitevely little influence from the Netherlands. The Afrikaaners retained Afrikans (a Dutch dialect), but largely lost contact with the Netherlands. The garments worn in South Africa are now essentially the same as those wprn in America and Europe. Footwear seems largely British or American, although many South African children go barefoot. Among blacks it is ofren a matter of poverty, but among white it is more out of preference.
At this time we are just beginning to collect information on African traditional garments. Here there are differences from tribe to tribe. Like Native Americans in America, the various tribes could be destinguished from their traditional dress. Boys clothing tenbded to be very basic. Younger children might wear no clothes at all. Older boys might wear a simple loin cloth with a variety of embelishments, especially for important occassions. As boys' traditional clothing was so basic, it was often difficult tribes from the clothes boys wore. This changed when boys usually at puberty joined the tribe as adults and became earr-iors. The dress of adults copuld be quite elaborate and could be used to identiy the tribe. There are quite a number of tribes in South Africa. The largest is the Zulu tribe amd we know a good bit about traditioinal Zulu costumes. Mosy Zulus commonly wear Western clothing, but commonly dress up in often elaborate traditioinal outfits for specisl occasions.
South Africa is made up of a diverse mix of African, Europen, and Asian people. Each of these groups have destinctive dress and garments. Although it is primarily the European (mostly English) styles that became standard. Amerian styles became important for casual wear in the 1970s. It was the English who came to dominate South Africa and as a result, English clothing styles became the accepted standard in South Africa, among the Afrikaaners and the Afrocans who could aford them. Even after the Afrikanner Nationalist Party gained control of South Africa, it was English fashions that predominated in South Africa. We note relaitevely little influence from the Netherlands. The Afrikaaners retained Afrikans (a Dutch dialect), but largely lost contact with the Netherlands. The garments worn in South Africa are now essentially the same as those wprn in America and Europe. Footwear seems largely British or American, although many South African children go barefoot. Among blacks it is ofren a matter of poverty, but among white it is more out of preference.
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