Traditional Welsh Costume: A Brief History

August 18, 2021

What Is the Traditional Welsh Costume?

The traditional Welsh costume was worn by Welsh women in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Its most recognizable element would be the gown as well as the tall hat with the broad, flat brim. However, the traditional Welsh costume has other elements as well. One example would be the cotton cap that sometimes came with long lappets. Another example would be the long cape that sometimes came with a hood that could go over the hat. Of course, Welsh men had their own clothing from the same period as well. However, it isn't much remembered because it was very similar to that of their English counterparts.

How Did the Traditional Welsh Costume Come to Be?

Interested individuals should know that there isn't much evidence of the traditional Welsh costume before the late 18th century. This is because that was when tourists started visiting Wales, with the result that they started recording their opinions about who the locals were, what the locals were wearing, and so on and so forth. By that time in point, the traditional Welsh costume was already seeing less use on the Anglo-Welsh border as well as Welsh ports, though it was still common elsewhere.

In the early 19th century, members of the Welsh gentry started trying to preserve Welsh customs. Naturally, this included the traditional Welsh costume, which had gone out of common use but was still seeing some use for special occasions just a few decades later. Fortunately, the rise of Welsh nationalism created a renewed interest in Welsh customs, with the result that this set of clothing became a very visible and thus very powerful symbol of Welsh identity.

Is the Traditional Welsh Costume Still Worn in Modern Times?

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