Terracotta Beads

Is This Awesome, Or What?

Sometimes, I wonder where my brain is? I know, it's in my head, but sometimes I think it's floating in the clouds, okay, I digress.  So, what am I talking about? Terracotta jewelry. Yes, terracotta-good ol' baked clay.

Sure, clay beads have been around for centuries, and, of course, you have the terracotta pots so coveted by gardeners; however, terracotta jewelry?

Why not?  The material can be shaped and painted upon to make some stunning pieces, or left in it's natural colour-which is so pretty. Of course, India offers some extraordiary examples of terracotta beadery.

My only worry is if I drop the jewelry-let's face it, I am clumsy-it would break my heart to see my jewelry shatter-and the glued together look isn't too flattering. 

Looks like it's left in it's natural 

colour and sealed

Ok, I really would love to have this piece!

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Original Content for Ethnic Finery

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Ethnic Finery is making an appeal to you: If you know an independent designer out there who specializes in the use of traditional textiles and costume, please let us know, and if possible, send us contact information.  We want them for our site!

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Thanks from the Heart, 
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The Men's Edition

Hakama

You may have seen the Hakama in Japanese Samurai films, worn by a martial arts instructor, or on your irritating, want-to-be ninja master, little brother. Sorry to digress, anyway, we're talking about the Japanese traditional attire mainly worn by men (hakamas are also worn by women) over the kimono. Unfortunately, it is not worn as often since it's considered "old fashioned."  Of course, like many traditional clothing, there are designers daring to update them for modern tastes most notably Yohji Yamamoto. Then again you may want to give the hakama a modern twist by pairing it up with a jacket, dress shirt and vest, or wear that kimono!

Yohji Yamamoto

Yohji Yamamoto

Hat, jacket and vest with a dark twist

Yohji Yamamoto

Yohji Yamamoto

Sources

• Hakama
• Yohji Yamamoto
• WikiHow-How to Make Hakama Pants

Skirt, Blouse, Scarf

Ghagra Choli

Ghagra Choli, also known as lehenga choli, is the traditional clothing of women in the northern regions of India, it is a combination outfit of a lehenga (long, embroidered skirt), choli (tight midriff baring, blouse) and dupatta (a long, multipurpose scarf). The Gharga Choli is seen in bridal wear magazines, and historical Bollywood movies.

Photo from 1872

Dupatta worn over the head and shoulders

Dupatta modestly draped on the body

Long choli

Short, stomach baring choli 

Long choli

The Men's Edition

The Dandy

Most of my friends swear that the more a man has on, the better he looks. And there are a few exceptions I can think of, but I have to agree.  And nothing epitomizes it more than the "English Dandy" look.  So, what is the "Dandy"?  "It is a man whose pursuit of elegance, in matters of dress, manners, and speech gains him a respect that nothing else can give (source)."

In other words, he's the man with a smug look on his face because he takes care of himself and everything he owns and cherish 24/7.  Of course, all of this is stereotypical silliness (more like daydreaming of the perfect man), but one has to agree there is a certain swagger.

Andre 3000

Waris Ahluwalia

Ankara

Dutch Wax

The Ankara fabric, formerly referred to as Dutch Wax from Holland, is a vibrant, eye-catching print worn in parts of Africa, namely Nigeria, Togo, Ghana and several other countries.  The fabric was originally made as a knock-off of Indonesian batik fabrics by VLISCO.  It never actually ended up really competing with the fabric it tried to be, instead it found its own market in Africa. Because the Dutch were not the colonizers of the Nigerian delta and surrounding area, it was more socially acceptable to trade with them, which allowed the fabric to catch on in the area.  It was adopted for frequent use as a clothing textile because let's face it, its pretty. 

Wax fabric is still frequently used for clothing in parts of Africa and internationally.  Not only does the VLISCO company produce it, but a wide variety of other companies in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Nigeria, Ghana, China and other textile-producing countries.

(Source)

Ankara Fashion via L.A.M.B.

Elle Varner

VLISCO's Frozen Dreams series

The Men's Edition

Guayabera and Barong Tagalog

If you're from or visited South Florida, Texas, Mexico, South America, Caribbean, Africa and/or Filipines then the Guayabera and Barong Tagalog is old news; however, for the rest of us, the ignorance is over. We're not going to go into the history of these shirts, but rest assured each side claims they influenced the other.

It doesn't matter because both styles are perfect for hot, humid weather and considered formal wear-be it a presidential shindig to a wedding! We'e leaning to the Barong Tagalog because of the intricate thread work (yes, a bias to thread work). The Guayabera is nice and utilitarian with those handy pockets (up to four), plus we've seen enough of them from the I-4 corridor to Miami, Florida for them to be ho-hum.

So, if a guy doesn't want to don the coat and tie on a hot, humid day, or any hot day, then opt for the Guayabera or Barong Tagalog, nice slacks and polished shoes, and you can't go wrong!

Long sleeve Guayabera for a wedding

The Guayabera looks good on any ethnicity!

Short sleeve Guayabera

Barong Tagalog

Men and Women version of the Barong Tagalog

Barong Tagalog

Intricate needlework on the
Barong Tagalog

Oh My Kimono!

The Kimono Passion

If asked what started my passion for ethnic wear, there will be three words in no particular order: dashiki, saree and kimono. Don't know where this innate passion comes from because it wasn't inspired by television, movies or books, and I grew up in a southern university town where casual was/is the norm.  

So, I come to the kimono. There was a really, really sweet woman I knew growing up, and she wore the kimono from time to time, and it made her look unreal, almost goddess-like in my young eyes. The clothing became alive: it moved, it breathed, it has colour, it made the wearer comfortable. I never forgot, and thankfully, it fueled my passion for ethnic finery.  

Sorry for the rambling. I present to you the kimono.

love the long swinging sleeves of the furisode

Tokyo Fashion Week 2010

The Men's Edition

Nehru Jacket

The Nehru jacket is a hip-length tailored coat for men or women, with a mandarin collar, and its front modeled on the South Asian achkan or sherwani, an apparel worn by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India from 1947 to 1964. However, unlike the achkan, which falls somewhere below the knees of the wearer, the Nehru jacket is not only shorter, but also, in all respects other than the collar, resembles the suit jacket. Nehru, notably, never wore the Nehru jacket himself.

The apparel was created in India in the 1940s as Band Gale Ka Coat (Hindi/Urdu: "Closed Neck Coat") and has been popular on the Indian subcontinent since, especially as the top half of a suit worn on formal occasions.

Source

The jacket that started it all for me!

To me Indians are not afraid of colours!

Beadwork

African Influences

Small and beautiful, beads are one of the most versatile and expressive art mediums. For thousands of years across the continent of Africa, beads were prestigious trade items that were used in masquerades, shrines and royal regalia and as adornment for the body. In each of these contexts, beads have had a primary role in communicating complex ideas about religion, aesthetics, and social and political status. 

Source