As students walk through the halls of SHS, they encounter all kinds of art displaying the diversity of cultures the school holds within its walls. In addition to the art displayed, there are also culture fairs, interpreters, clubs and so much more. With this, SHS has become a melting pot of cultures from around the world.
Students from places countries scattered across the globe get the chance to express their culture at SHS in front of their peers through their cultural attire. Not only do their pieces bring them closer to their roots, but they also help them represent their cultures.
Vietnamese Attire
In Vietnam, the traditional attire for women is called an Áo Dài, a long tunic that has cut outs on the sides of the bottom of the dress, worn with trousers or pants. For men, the attire is called an Áo Dài Nam, which translates to long men’s dress. Typically, the Áo Dài is worn when going to the temple or special holidays like Chinese New Year.
Sophomore Tiffany Quach is familiar with the process of making this attire due to the vast amount of Vietnamese culture roaming around her household. She says the different forms of making the dress are both unique and creative.
“I think it’s super cool that throughout the decades, people have found such unique ways to make these dresses, and it shows the true innovation of Vietnam and the creativity that it takes to make Áo
Dàis,” Quach said. “Although they look quite simple on the outside, I know that it takes a lot of thought and consideration to put together the perfect Áo Dài.”
While many Áo Dài are usually plain and simple, they also can come with different types of images, like a fish, bird or flower. Oftentimes, women and sometimes men wear headbands with their Áo Dàis as well.
With the wide range of history and development of the attire, Quach says the attire helps her become closer to her roots and also helps her realize how special her cultural attire is.
“As a kid, I didn’t wear it a lot because I didn’t really realize that it was as special as it was, but now realizing (its significance), I will definitely wear it more often,” Quach said. “It helps me connect with my roots because I know that people from a long time ago would wear it, and even now it’s still meant to help people express themselves.”
Mexican Attire
The China Poblana is a dress that can be worn on special days, like the Virgin Mary’s Birthday, Mexico Independence Day or on holidays like Día de los Muertos. While it is mainly worn as a dress, it can also be a two-piece set that consists of vibrant colors on the skirt and a white blouse.
The name China Poblana comes from the rich history of the indigenous people of Mexico with
the focal point of womanhood.
Another traditional clothing piece is the Huipil, it’s a sleeveless tunic that can have lace and ribbon. It is typically a white blouse that contains embroidery but it mainly contains flowers and other designs. But they can also be in the form of a dress as well.
Typically worn during church or quinceañeras, a rebozo is a long shawl used as an accessory.
Many of these traditional clothing pieces are typically handmade, but with the advancement of technology, it is more likely for the clothing to be factory-made.
Senior Andrea Perez-Xique, whose family is from Puebla, Mexico, says that while there aren’t many patterns to the dresses, the vibrant color fulfills the beauty of the dress.
“I do know we’re big on color,” Perez-Xique said. “We do have a lot of colors, especially on our shirts and pants. On our shirts, we have very big patterns and designs, and it might come from (our) ancestors since a lot of us are part native.”
There are instances in which people will wear charm bracelets that either have blue or red designs along it. But one thing that is often seen are Cadenitas or Medallas, which are necklaces with either the Virgin Mary or a cross that most people get at baptisms or quinces.
Perez-Xique says that her cultural clothing has helped her become closer to her siblings who were born in Puebla. Since she was born in America, to her, their clothing is a way to help represent where they came from.
“Especially nowadays, we are very diverse, and it’s really great to show everybody where we’re from, especially if you’re from a small town,” Perez-Xique said.
Chin Attire
In Chin culture, there are a variety of styles in their traditional clothing that represent different tribes. With this, the names of the clothing are named after the different tribes, some of which are Hakha, Khualsim and Zanniat, originating from Chin State. Typically, the clothes are worn on Sundays during church, special events or even weddings and birthdays.
Traditional Chin clothing is usually a set containing a top and a skirt for the women and a suit jacket for the men. They come decorated and enriched with many different designs and patterns. The different style of patterns, design and colors makes it easier to differentiate the tribe’s traditional pieces.
The clothing can be made professionally by sewing pieces of fabric together. Another method is using a backstrap loom, or a wooden tool. Sophomore Ngun Par says that the bigger the loom, the faster the clothes making process goes.
“It can be handmade, but it can also be professionally done (by) sewing. But when they make it, they use a certain tool, but it takes a while and the bigger the tool the faster it is. But the handmade ones are more expensive,” Par said.
The customary clothing has a variety of accessories to go along with it.
Accessories such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets, headpieces, rings and belts are all additional components the Chin community may pair with their clothes.
With the use of mosaic shapes and hues, the traditional Chin clothing is able to represent history and embody Chin culture in places that are new to their customs. And most importantly, it helps people appreciate the clothing and their culture.
“It means who I am, and I’m proud of it,” Par said. “I’m able to appreciate it, and I believe that my attire can show off my culture in this foreign country.”
