The Irish traditional clothing has an interesting background and a rich history. Ireland has different traditional attire, with each piece having its uniqueness.
The clothing and style of the Irish have continued to evolve, as has their clothing. There has continued to be a development in the clothing of the Irish, and new styles and fashions have continued to be introduced.
The weather conditions of the Irish are another major factor that has had a major influence on the traditional clothing of the Irish.
Many of their native attire is made from fabrics that keep the body warm because the weather conditions in Ireland are temperate and often bring unexpected rain and wind.
This is why one of the common pieces of traditional clothing that we can find in Irish traditional clothing is the Aran sweater, which can keep the wearer warm when the weather is cold.
There have been several factors that have influenced Irish traditional clothing, ranging from religious factors to British colonial influence.
Regardless of the influence, Irish traditional clothing has continued to serve as a portrayal of the cultural identity of the Irish.
Aside from the fact that Irish traditional clothing serves as a significant representation of Irish cultural identity, they deserve to be given credit for creating beautiful pieces.
Their clothing is stylish. Their clothing has gained so much prominence in the world that several people in other countries have begun to adopt their styles. Traditional Irish clothing is made to serve different purposes and suit different events.
How are you able to tell that certain people are from particular places or regions when you see them dress a certain way?
This is because clothing is part of a person’s culture, and knowing about the culture of a particular person will help you understand where a person is from when they dress a certain way.
This is to tell us that there is a story behind every piece of attire we see. Something or an event must have inspired the creation of that particular clothing.
We cannot talk about Irish traditional clothing without considering its history.
We need to know the form of clothing that the people of Ireland wore starting from the earlier period.
Let’s learn about the interesting evolution of Irish traditional clothing before considering the types of Irish traditional clothing that we have.
History and Evolution of Irish Traditional Clothing
1. Ancient Celtic Period
The Irish traditional clothing started during the Iron Age with the Celts, who were the earliest dwellers in Ireland. The arrival of the Celts in Ireland was around 500 BC.
During this period, they made beautiful garments using different fabrics. They made their cloth from wool, linen, leather and animal skins.
They made beautiful designs by soaking their clothes in colorful dyes, which were made from plants and stale urine. They also adorned their bodies with gold and silver jewelry.
The most common jewelry worn by them is known as the torc. They frequently draped cloaks over their shoulders. Tunics, trousers and skirts were also part of the clothes they wore.
They wore embroidered shirts, which were made from bright colors. The shirt is paired with a trouser called a bracae. The men wore an attire known as léine – a skirt-like garment. The léine came in different sizes and lengths.
Some were knee length, mid-thigh length or calf length. The climate of the region also influenced the way they dressed, as they wore garments in multiple layers.
The nobles among them wore a torch, a twisted metal neckband in a circular shape made from gold, silver, bronze, or copper.
2. The Medieval and Renaissance Era
The traditional clothing of the Irish around the 15th century was also influenced by Celtic culture, although there were some adjustments.
At this time, the léine worn during the Celtic period was still worn by the people. However, during this period, it was worn by people of the upper class.
Brat was another piece of attire that was commonly worn during this period, while the peasants and members of the army wore trousers and short tunics.
The clothing of the laborers was made from wool, linen and leather.
While the influential members of society made their cloth with silk, satin and fur and were granted permission to wear desirable colors depending on their status, blue and purple were only allowed to be used by the king.
The Anglo-Irish in the country at the time were fascinated by Irish traditional clothing and wore it.
However, this was not well received by some Anglo-Irish leaders living in Ireland. This led them to pass laws to prevent people from dressing in traditional Irish clothing.
This led to the adoption of English style and clothing. Both men and women began to adopt the English style.
In the 19th century, Irish women wore red petticoats.
Types of Irish Traditional Clothing
1. Aran Sweater
Aran sweaters are one of the famous pieces of clothing that belong to the Irish. According to the name, the cloth had its origins on Aran Island.
Originally, this piece of clothing was made using waterproof material. The yarn used was unscoured, which made it retain its natural lanolin.
It was made so because it was meant to be worn by fishermen. This is why it was called a fisherman’s sweater. Now, pure wool is used in making the attire.
Another thing that is noteworthy about the Aran sweater is its symbolic meaning. Every stitch made on the Aran sweater represents something.
The honeycomb symbolizes hard work. This is because being industrious and effective were important virtues for the Irish.
Cable symbolizes tribute to the fisherman’s ropes and a prayer for protection and good luck while fishing
The diamond is a symbol of good health and success.
The basket, which represents the fisherman’s basket, represents hope for an abundant catch.
2. Brat
Another piece of traditional Irish clothing is the brat, which is often referred to in English as mantle. It is a large piece of woollen attire that has a row of fringing in front.
The cloth is meant to serve as a form of protection during harsh weather.
Brats also served other functions aside from wearing, they were used as blankets or bedding because of their large size and thickness.
The type of brat worn by people could indicate a person’s status in society; for instance, the rich wore finely woven woolen cloaks, richly dyed and embellished with silk or fine wool fringes, while the poor wore loosely woven undyed cloaks.
They can be found in different colors and can be combined with either modern or native attire.
3. Petticoat
This is traditional clothing worn by Irish women.
It is a kind of undergarment worn under a skirt. Originally, this skirt was made to keep the woman’s skirt from being dragged on the floor to prevent dirt.
4. Irish Tweed Jacket
Another Irish traditional clothing item that the Irish are known for is the Tweed jacket. It is a very popular cloth in Ireland. Irish farmers and fishermen had worn it for ages.
The tweed jacket is made from tweed, which is a rough woolen fabric woven with a plain weave. The jacket is paired with tweed trousers, a white shirt and a tie. The jacket is worn to formal gatherings or events and it is still worn today
5. Galway Shawl
The Galway shawl, also known as the Irish shawl, is a type of shawl that has a heavy weight and is made to be worn by Irish women during the colder season. It comes in different colors and it is worn over a blouse to cover the shoulders and chest.
6. Pampooties
A footwear item that belongs to the Irish traditional clothing is the Pampooties. The pampooties were shoes worn by the Aran Islanders.
These shoes were handcrafted from a single piece of untreated animal hide folded around the foot for a snug fit and sewn together using twine or leather straps occasionally.
7. Irish Dance Dress
The Irish dance dress is a beautiful piece crafted from lightweight materials such as satin, silk or velvet and designed with intricate embroidery. This cloth is worn by Irish dancers while dancing or performing on a stage during a festival or a competition.
8. Sporran
Sporran is a type of Irish traditional clothing. It is a type of accessory used with a kilt. It is a pouch made of leather or fur positioned at the center of the kilt. Aside from being just a form of accessory, the sporran is used for keeping one’s belongings.
9. Caubeen
Cuabeen is a type of beret that belongs to Irish traditional clothing. They usually come in dark green Formerly, the people who were found wearing this beret were the peasants, until it became a costume of the commonwealth armies.
10. Leine
Leine is one of the ancient Irish traditional clothes that has been worn by both men and women for years. Leine is a loose garment that bears a close resemblance to a tunic. It is made of linen. The length of the garment usually does not exceed the knee
Conclusion
In conclusion, Irish traditional clothing has gained so much prominence today. One of their attires, the Aran sweater, is worn by people in different parts of the world today.
Also, their clothing has been featured in different fashion shows and magazines, which bears witness to the stylish fashion of the Irish.
We can also see that most of their clothes were made to serve different needs; one of those needs is their weather condition, which is why you will find more jackets and cardigans in their clothes.
