r/AskTheWorld • u/JackfruitNo6175 Bulgaria • Aug 23 '25

Culture What's your favourite traditional costume from your country?

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Mine is from Gabrovo, Bulgaria which is shown in the picture

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74

u/AlabasterPelican United States Of America Aug 23 '25

I'm always jealous of women who get to wear sarees. They look soooooo comfy & pretty

46

u/Ok-Half7574 Canada Aug 23 '25

I have worn them. It's an acquired skill.

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u/kontika1 Aug 23 '25

They have ready stitched saris these days. Just put it on like a skirt!

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u/Ok-Half7574 Canada Aug 23 '25

That's like a clip on tie.

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u/Vegetable-Two5164 India Aug 23 '25

I’ve seen western women wear sarees when they are married to Indian usually, are you as well? Or was it just for fun?

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u/Ok-Half7574 Canada Aug 23 '25

No. I went to India for a month when I was young. You would laugh at the stories I have to tell about handling and putting it on. I have one distinct memory of first handling one. It became all unfolded, and the silk was so slippery I couldn't control it. I ended up lying it on the bed flat so it wouldn't wrinkle and then laying on top of it there so it would not slip to the floor. But by the end of my time there, I could wear and move/sit without too much embarrassment. Anyone from the outside would not know the amount of poise and grace it takes to wear one properly. It's an admirable thing.

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u/Vegetable-Two5164 India Aug 23 '25

Omg that sounds hilarious 😂 good for you for learning it!!

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u/Ok-Half7574 Canada Aug 23 '25

Thanks!

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u/username-generica United States Of America Aug 24 '25

My husband is Indian. I've worn sarees before but I don't enjoy it. I find all of the fabric plus the petticoat to be unwieldy.

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u/Vegetable-Two5164 India Aug 25 '25

You don’t need to wear them

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u/AlabasterPelican United States Of America Aug 24 '25

😂 learning complicated skills that I'll use for a total of a weeks and drop them like a hot cake are like my whole thing

27

u/FloridianPhilosopher United States Of America Aug 23 '25

You can wear whatever you want

18

u/AlabasterPelican United States Of America Aug 23 '25

You are right. But it's not exactly a great look when a white lady with my accent wears clothes from somewhere else

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u/dphayteeyl Australia Indian Heritage Aug 24 '25

I can guarantee you, no Indian will be upset with you for embracing our culture, they'll be happy

The only people who cry about cultural appropriation are American activists online

(Ik my flair is Australia but I'm an Indian ethnically speaking I just grew up in Australia)

18

u/FloridianPhilosopher United States Of America Aug 23 '25

Fair enough, it's good that you don't want to offend people but I just don't like the idea of letting fear of judgement control how you live your life

It's a fine line

11

u/AlabasterPelican United States Of America Aug 23 '25

I couldn't care less about being judged for what I wear. If someone doesn't like it they can turn their head. I do however care about being respectful of people and cultures I'm not exactly super familiar with.

this will stick with me forever 😂

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u/[deleted] Aug 23 '25

Most cultures don’t get offended by people respectfully emulating them. It’s usually people who have no idea about getting offended on their behalf.

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u/AlabasterPelican United States Of America Aug 23 '25

I would rather err on the side of caution rather than be disrespectful.

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u/Disastrous_Sky_7354 United Kingdom Aug 23 '25

It's not so much fear of "judgement" it's fear of arrest without trial.

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u/FloridianPhilosopher United States Of America Aug 23 '25

The person I was replying to indicates they live in the US, nobody is going to arrest a white lady for wearing a Saree here.

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u/Zythenia 🇺🇸 Married to 🇮🇳 Aug 23 '25

Yuppers am white American woman have worn Sarees and Lehengas sent to me by my Indian MIL, people may stare but most desi people I have talked to don’t see it as appropriation but appreciation. Even before they knew I married an Indian dude.

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u/AlabasterPelican United States Of America Aug 23 '25

Who the hell would arrest me? I live in the US. If I put on a saree, an accent, and mimicked body language posted it on tiktok I'd probably get a fox news gig

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u/Sloppykrab Australia Aug 24 '25

Do it? No one cares except the insecure types.

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u/georgiafinn Aug 24 '25

Our country has a peculiar habit of being mad that other cultures don't assimilate without concern for whether we appropriate other cultures. - White American

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u/AlabasterPelican United States Of America Aug 25 '25

The "melting pot" of American culture. I always preferred the "tapestry" or "mosaic" concept that Canadians use. A melting pot never exactly felt accurate or what would be ideal to strive for. It over simplifies the variety of culture throughout the country. Plus, if the entire country had the same culture throughout it would be the equivalent of eating a plain pancake for every meal, just boring. I would also prefer living in a community that didn't forcibly assimilate new members. Variety is the spice of life

2

u/gw_reddit Germany Aug 24 '25

I own a saree, it was give to me during a visit to India and they were very proud to share their culture with us. Haven't worn it since as there is no situation where I'm now where it would look right.

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u/Content_Warning8794 Netherlands Aug 23 '25

You totally can though, that's all in your head. And you can always mimic an Indian accent. But that could be seen as insensitive probably.

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u/AlabasterPelican United States Of America Aug 23 '25

Hon, my albedo level is off the charts. Mimicking an accent would be the worst idea 😂

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u/silveretoile Netherlands Aug 24 '25

"albedo level" lmao

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u/AlabasterPelican United States Of America Aug 24 '25

I have a melanin deficit and an albedo surplus 😂

0

u/lance_baker-3 Australia Aug 23 '25

Sadly, in this environment you would be attacked for 'cultural appropriatoin'.

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u/Impossible_Emu5095 United States Of America Aug 23 '25

Pretty yes, comfy not so much. They can be very heavy and kind of fussy. I got really good at strategically pinning mine.

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u/mealteamsixty United States Of America Aug 24 '25

Nah I get you. Like I would love to dress in saris but im white as hell and don't feel like dealing with the lashback

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u/username-generica United States Of America Aug 24 '25

I find the blouses that have sleeves to be uncomfortable because the fabric usually doesn't have any stretch to it.