Ethiopian suit

An Ethiopian suit is the name given in America to the traditional formal wear of the men of Ethiopia.[1] It consists of a long sleeve, knee-length shirt, and matching pants. Most shirts are made with a Mandarin, band, or Nehru collar. The suit is made of chiffon, which is a sheer silk or rayon cloth. A shawl called a netela or a kuta is wrapped around the suit, see Culture of Ethiopia. During the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, Parade of Nations, the Ethiopian team marched in white suits.

For informal events, men wear the Ethiopian dashiki. The main difference between the dashiki and the Ethiopian suit is the collar. The dashiki does not have a collar. The dashiki is similar to the style worn in West Africa. However, Ethiopian dashikis are usually white, off-white, or natural cotton. The front is decorated with Ethiopian themes and motifs. For formal events, the dashiki suit is worn and consists of a dashiki shirt and matching pants. (see Wikimedia commons for photos)

In the United States and the Caribbean, the Ethiopian suit is also worn by Rastafarian men.

The Ethiopian suit is worn for weddings, church and synagogue services, and other special occasions.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ethiopian clothing.

References

  1. ↑ Janet Jaymes Dirty Laundry: A Memoir 2006 - Page 89 "Because we were celebrating a special occasion, you chose to dress up for me in an all white, authentic Ethiopian suit as if you were European royalty going to a party at the United Nations. I dressed in an electric blue jumpsuit I had"
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