Folk costume

Folk costume, also known as traditional dress, traditional attire, folk attire, or regalia is clothing of an ethnic group, nation or region, and expresses cultural, religious or national identity. It includes both everyday and formal wear, those which do not cater to Western dress codes.

An ethnic group's clothing may be called ethnic clothing or ethnic dress. So are there national costumes, and regional costumes.

Following the rise of romantic nationalism in parts of Europe, pre-industrial peasantry came to serve as an ideal of authenticity. Garments evoking peasant dress were made from traditional pre-industrial textiles.

In regions where Western dress styles are common, traditional garments are often worn during special events or celebrations. International events may cater to non-Western attendees with a compound dress code such as "business suit or national dress".

In some contemporary societies, traditional garments are required by sumptuary laws.

In Algeria, cultural dress includes the burnous, ghlila, caftan, gandoura, haik, jellaba, m'laya, and sarouel. In northern Algeria, clothing includes the karakou (in Algiers), labsa Naïlia (among Ouled Naïl), and labsa M'zabia (among Mozabite people). In northeastern Algeria, dress includes Gandoura Annabiya (in Annaba), qashabiya and melhfa chaouïa (among Chaoui people), labsa Kbaylia (among Kabyle people), and binouar Staifi (in Sétif). In northwestern Algeria, traditional dress includes the blouza in Oran and the chedda of Tlemcen. In southern Algeria, the tagelmust is traditional attire; traditional clothing of the Tuareg people includes the akhebay. In Western Algeria, Sahrawis wear the el-melhfa Sahraoui.

Caftan, Fouta towel, Jallabiyah and Taqiyah cap are common throughout Islamic Africa.

Transnational traditional attires in Sub-saharan Africa include agbada and boubou, and dashiki for men, pagne/pano and kaftan for women.