canada avaCanadian national clothing was formed under the influence of Native Indians (who lived on these lands for centuries) and colonizers from Europe (who came to Canada in 17-18th century). Also traditional garments in Canada correspond with the weather conditions and climate in this part of the world. That's why traditional Canadian pieces of clothing are: parkas, tuques, ojibwa shirts, mittens, ear muffs and so on.

Read also:

Buffalo Plaid Lumberjack – can we call it Canadian national garment?

Canadian parka – Inuit folk garment popular to this day


The history of Canadian traditional costume (actually, many people think that there is no traditional garment in Canada, but still some pieces of clothing can be considered as their national dress) begins during the era of Native Indians. In 17th century the traditional dress begins to change fluently into more European one. Why?

One of the most important things for the Native Indians in Canada was to keep the tradition in everything. Every tribe had its traditional garment, jewelry and style of face painting. Tribes lived far from each other and didn't contact often. So, every tribe managed to keep its own dress untouched and unchanged for centuries.

 

Blackfoot Indians making sweet grass medicine
Blackfoot making sweet grass medicine for a ceremony

 

But after colonizers came to Canada Native Indian tribes lost some of their territories. They were forced to live closer to each other. So, they began to borrow each other's tribal dress. In that period the most popular clothing among Indians were feather headdresses, fringed buckskin clothing, and woven blankets.

In 19th century Native Indians were wearing beaded jackets and shirts, woolen sweaters, Seminole patchwork skirts, ribbon shirts, satin shawls, jingle dresses, broad ribbon applique, and the Cherokee tear dress.

New settlers from Europe brought new fashion to Canadian lands. And this fact changed the whole clothing tradition in this country forever.

Men's clothing from ancient times till today

Dress of Native Indians

Mostly the Natives wore (and they still do) trousers with a kind of skirt onto them. It was the most popular clothing of Native Indians: the breech clout or breech cloths – rectangular piece of cloth or leather which was belted and worn with leather leggings (or without it). Some tribes wore kilts and fur trousers.

Canadian Native Indians mostly didn't wear shirts in summer. They used leather shirts for cold season. Their clothes were very natural (made of natural materials and painted in natural colors) and beautiful, with quillwork, beadwork, feather elements and decorations made of wood and bone. Also clothing of Native Indians was often painted in different colors, just like their skin.

 

Three Blackfoot Chiefs wearing traditional clothing
Three Blackfoot Chiefs wearing traditional clothing, including typical eagle feather war bonnet and two straight-up headdresses. On the picture are: Wolf Plume (left), Curly Bear (center), and Bird Rattler (right).

 

But the most unusual and distinctive piece of clothing of Native Indians was the headdress. Usually it was made of feathers and was very large and bright. And almost every tribe had its own traditional type of headgear and formal clothing.

Shoes of Native Canadians were made of leather as well as clothes. They wore moccasins, which were comfortable, soft and silent when walking – necessary features for a hunter. There also were mukluks (heavier boots).


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Garments of colonial period

In general, garments of first Canadian settlers were made by pattern of French and then English fashion.

When first colonizers came to Canada in 17th century, they wore clothes which they brought from Europe. Only some parts of clothing were made locally from leather and fur. Garments for new settlers were brought to Canada from France and other countries by ships. So, people were wearing European style garments, but because of a time lag of at least a year between the initiation of a style in Europe and its appearance in Canada, settlers got old-fashioned clothes. That's why Canadian fashions in 17th and 18th century were: men's wigs, rich fabrics and elegant lace. Men wore breeches (slightly below the knee trousers). The settlers were very conservative, they tried to keep traditions of the Old World. So, they were pretty conservative in clothing unlike people in France, from where dressing was brought.

But only wealthy settlers could order and buy garments from Europe. The clothing of simple workers was much simpler and cheaper. Mostly it was made at home by workers themselves, sometimes people bought some pieces of clothing from local weavers and other craftsmen.

 

Garments of Canadian new settlers from the 18th century
Garments of Canadian new settlers, 18th century

 

In 19th century men in Canada wore ordinary trousers (instead of breeches), waist-length jackets, hooded capotes and other clothes made of English cloth, which was delivered by ships.

During centuries of living in Canada new settlers adopted a lot of features and tips in dressing from Native Indians. They began to use leather and fur, especially in everyday garments. Also people began to wear moccasins, leggings, blanket capotes (which transformed into a greatcoat) etc.

Present-day clothing

Actually, Canadians don't have general national costume, because the population of this country was formed by a mix of nations: Native Indians, Frenchmen, Englishmen and others. But there are some pieces of clothing that are typical for present-day Canadians. Fashion in Canada today still depends much on the weather and climate conditions. That's why people wear parkas, long john's (an undergarment, basically long underwear), ear muffs, scarves, gloves, mittens, tuques (woolen caps), various jackets made of linen and leather, leggings, ojibwa shirts, trousers, and moccasins. These are unisex clothes, good for both men and women.

 

Costume of The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Costume of The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which is recognized in the world as a typical Canadian dress

 

Women's clothing from ancient times till today

Dress of Native Indians

The Native Canadian women mostly wore shirts, skirts and leggings, but the design, material and decorations were different from tribe to tribe. In some tribes shirts were optional and were used only as a coat. Other women always wore shirts, tunics or mantles in public. There were also American Indian dresses, which replaced shirts, skirts and leggings in some Indian tribes in Canada.

 

Native Indian Pow Wow
Native Indian Pow Wow

 

Native Indian women wore same shoes as man: moccasins or mukluks.

Garments of colonial period

In 17th-19th century women in Canada wore separate tops and skirts. Also they wore corset bodices (they were waist-long and sleeveless), chemises (knee-length undergarments which could function for the working classes as blouses), petticoats (skirts), aprons and caps. Similar clothing was warn in Europe in the same period, especially in France, England and Spain.

 

New settlers in Canada from the 19th century
New settlers in Canada, 19th century

 

But garments in Canada depended much on the weather conditions and the way of life in this part of the world. For example, women couldn't wear shoes made for English roads in Canada. They preferred flexible leather moccasins, which were much more comfortable, warm and appropriate. Still new Canadian settlers tried hard to follow the European fashion. They ordered clothes and fashion magazines, shared every new information about fashion and style etc.

The most loved among Canadian women were long wide skirts, corsets and waist-long jackets.

Present-day clothing

Actually, Canadians don't have general national costume, because the population of this country was formed by a mix of nations: Native Indians, Frenchmen, Englishmen and others. But there are some pieces of clothing that are typical for present-day Canadians. Fashion in Canada today still depends much on the weather and climate conditions. That's why people wear parkas, long john's (an undergarment, basically long underwear), ear muffs, scarves, gloves, mittens, tuques (woolen caps), various jackets made of linen and leather, leggings, ojibwa shirts, trousers, and moccasins. These are unisex clothes, good for both men and women.

 

canada4
Clothing collection for the 2010 Winter Olympics, but ordinary people in Canada wear just the same clothes every day

Comments  
#43 Guest 2023-10-11 14:39
Quoting Guest:
Quoting hannah:
canada is a willy big state

willy willy big
Quote
#42 Guest 2023-04-06 17:14
Quoting hannah:
canada is a willy big state

willy willy big
Quote
#41 hannah 2022-02-09 15:38
canada is a willy big state
Quote
#40 hannah 2022-02-09 15:37
i want to know do they play it like normal or diffrent
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#39 Jesse Bazan 2021-10-04 08:20
Are there different types of hats in Canada as well
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#38 Jon 2021-06-11 01:02
Thanks for finally writing about >Traditional dress of Canada.
History and examples
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#37 Otto 2021-05-30 03:10
Thanks for finally writing about >Traditional dress of Canada.
History and examples
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#36 Jimmy 2021-03-29 20:20
Quoting W:
Quoting Call:
Quoting grinder:
Where is the hockey clothing?

Traditional dress of Canada is only hockey dress, lol
other is non Canadian

canadians dress lots of ways!!! dont expect to go to canada and see a bunch of hockey players.

^Yeup! I'm Canadian and we usually just wear hoodies, jackets, gloves or mittens, tuques, T-shirts, and jeans or leggings. Sometimes girls wear skirts and crop-tops (I've seen a few men wear crop-tops as well though) but for the most part our types of clothing are unisex.
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#35 Sofia 2021-03-17 16:50
Quoting Mark:
No photography in the 17th century=
Woman and child in the photo titled new
settlers, 17th century

Sorry, of course, you're right. It should be the 19th century))
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#34 Mark 2021-03-17 14:58
No photography in the 17th century=
Woman and child in the photo titled new
settlers, 17th century
Quote
#33 Maya kareem 2021-02-21 04:54
Thanks for sharing such a nice Blog.I like it.
clothing
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#32 Dwain 2020-05-16 20:25
Thanks for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your efforts and I will be
waiting for your next write ups thamk you once again.
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#31 student1 2020-03-05 16:31
Quoting Stella:
Quoting BOB:
Canada has no culture.
Every other place does.
Its a melting pot. No identity.

Welcome to "multiculturalism".


Canada does have a culture, it was here before the white people arrived and erased it with their only culture -killing and ruining everybody's history and identity

That is not true. Canada may have had culture then but now they have more,and im sure some people still follow that culture,this also seems like an insult to canadians and white people
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#30 J 2020-01-18 19:37
The comments on this thread sound like a bunch of immature children who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, regarding clothing, history, culture, or basically anything else. BOB, you may be the worst.

Also, I am fairly certain that photo of the boy and mother is not from the 17th century (i.e. the 1600s). A poorly written article unfortunately.
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#29 Brock 2019-12-09 19:26
Love this site
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#28 Sofia 2019-12-09 15:17
Quoting Grey-M:
I appreciate that this is interesting and will be looking some things up. But I have big doubts on how accurate it is. Native Americans (not "Native Canadians" or "Canadian Native Indians") are First Nations and not Canadians so warning bells are chiming. Maybe include a piece about flannel Lumber jacks and Calgary's white cowboy hats which are the most associated with Canadians "national clothing"

Thanks. I will. If you have info or links with accurate info about authentic Canadian clothing, please share.
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#27 Grey-M 2019-12-09 15:06
Quoting Stella:
Quoting BOB:
Canada has no culture.
Every other place does.
Its a melting pot. No identity.

Welcome to "multiculturalism".


Canada does have a culture, it was here before the white people arrived and erased it with their only culture -killing and ruining everybody's history and identity

Lol Canada's culture is what was around before Canada and Canadians? haha. You know your first nations history? What happened to France's first attempt to settle here. Why was all the European settlers dead when the captian returned a year later? Do you still wonder why the second time they built a defensive fort on top the rock bluff we now call Quebec city. Natives didnt write their history down to erase and they still have their tongues to teach their kids. Not Canadians fault the kids rather beg for change to buy some mouthwash to drink then stay on the reserve and preserve thier ways.
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#26 Grey-M 2019-12-09 14:44
I appreciate that this is interesting and will be looking some things up. But I have big doubts on how accurate it is. Native Americans (not "Native Canadians" or "Canadian Native Indians") are First Nations and not Canadians so warning bells are chiming. Maybe include a piece about flannel Lumber jacks and Calgary's white cowboy hats which are the most associated with Canadians "national clothing"
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#25 JosephWrorp 2019-12-07 00:14
nice passage cuff
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#24 student 2019-09-30 23:05
you forgot the lumberjack, or jill, shirt!
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#23 W 2019-06-21 22:17
Quoting Call:
Quoting grinder:
Where is the hockey clothing?

Traditional dress of Canada is only hockey dress, lol
other is non Canadian

canadians dress lots of ways!!! dont expect to go to canada and see a bunch of hockey players.
Quote
#22 W 2019-06-21 22:07
Quoting albert:
wat is canadia? i no about america but i did no kno about candia?? do theey culture? pleas hlep
:)
ps come 2 brasil!!1! I dont live in brasil but i here they have cultur.
luv, litwania
pss sorry for my bad ingles, i do not speac natuve america!! :))

canada is a counrty in northern north america. it snows in the winter, and (where im from) its very nice in the summer! yes we do culture. you can search i up on the web! (dont worry! i could understand your english!)
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#21 johnjohn 2019-06-03 19:32
Why do we have so much traditional clothing, i mean Mounties most get very hot wearing 7000 different pieces of clothing. Like, i have to use this for my project and you are making me wright all this stuff, i don't even know what 70% of these clothing pieces do.
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#20 BOB 2019-02-15 13:39
CANADA HAS TONNES OF CULTURE BE FREE LITTLE CANADIANS!
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#19 albert 2019-02-08 16:49
wat is canadia? i no about america but i did no kno about candia?? do theey culture? pleas hlep
:)
ps come 2 brasil!!1! I dont live in brasil but i here they have cultur.
luv, litwania

pss sorry for my bad ingles, i do not speac natuve america!! :))
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#18 SARANJAN 2019-02-06 10:10
Thanks!
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#17 lost 2018-11-04 14:33
Quoting transform:
during the Confederation Era in Canada?
Like in England same Era, for example The "Paisley shawl", first made in India, then in Scotland, then was very popular in London and became a common household item in Canada.
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#16 transform 2018-10-20 07:56
What women wore in winter during the Confederation Era in Canada?
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#15 M 2018-09-10 14:07
traditional costume here in Quebec has the ceinture fléchée (woven scarf-like belt), mocassin and wool cap (blue or red, styled kind of like a reverse smurf cap lol). usually they'd wear that over winter clothes and during carnaval you have people tying the belts over their coats - think the ceinture is the most recognizable and used item overall. still wear mine sometimes! women would not really wear the cap but I've seen the mocassin and belts often. even more today, since the white cap and apron are quite difficult to procure and style modernly.
you want a good idea of traditional clothing look for habitant on google.
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#14 Call 2018-09-01 10:25
Quoting grinder:
Where is the hockey clothing?

Traditional dress of Canada is only hockey dress, lol
other is non Canadian
Quote
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