Friday, August 31, 2012

Factors That Shape South African Clothing

By Ladonna Franklin


In as far as the aspect of South African clothing is concerned, it can be noted that there are various elements that determine the kind of clothes preferred by different people. The availability of raw materials also determines the type of clothes manufactured in this country. Of notable concern is the fact that this country does not have a national dress like other African countries.

There are various racial groups in South Africa and they have different cultures which entails that their preferences in terms of clothing also differ. People who share the same culture have similar choices of clothes. For instance, in traditional cultures, women are expected to wear long dresses while in urban cultures people have the right to wear any type of clothes which they may desire.

The climatic conditions in this country vary from place to place and this also influences the type of clothes worn during specific seasons. Manufacturers of clothes take this aspect into consideration when they design different dresses. Some clothes are suitable for extremely hot climatic conditions in other provinces like the Northern as well as the Western Cape.

The aspect of fashion is another factor that influences the type of dressing in this nation. This country is in contact with cultures from different countries and they have designer clothes which are very popular among the youths. Therefore, it can be seen that people who are conscious to the aspect of culture wear clothes that are quite different from the old folk.

The other issue that determines the type of clothes preferred by different people is related to the nature of work done by different people. Some institutions like banks require their employees to wear formal clothing so that they may look attractive to their customers. On the other hand, it can be seen that other organizations do not have a specific dress code.

As noted, this country is comprised of people belonging to different cultures and they have different religions. Some of the churches have their own regalia and this is used to distinguish them from other religions. Some clothes are only used for special occasions in some areas. For instance, people who live in rural areas have a different kind of dress compared to their counterparts in the urban areas and there are many reasons for this.

This Southern African country is a cotton producer and this commodity is used for manufacturing different clothes. It can also be seen that nylon is produced in this country and it is used for manufacturing different types of dresses. The raw materials used by clothing companies also have a bearing on the final products that are sold to different people.

The issue of dressing in different communities is shaped by a number of factors which vary from place to place. The culture of a particular group of people influences its behavior and this covers other important elements such as dressing. Basically, it can be seen that the South African clothing is mainly influenced by elements that are related to culture given that there are several cultures in this popular nation.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment