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The GAUCHO

Name:         Gaúcho / Gaúcha         Place:        Brazil / Argentina

 

Origin:        since 18th century         Materials:    cotton leather, tanned                                                                            leather, jean, tergal or linen

 

Occasion:         Everyday's life  /  For work (nowadays)

    Gaucho is the name used to define the typical people of cowherd from the south of America. 200 years ago, gauchos were living off the land, in large and wild meadows, exclusively on horseback. The leather of their clothes is due to the huge number of cows and horses in those regions.
    With the modernization of the countries in the 19th century, their freedom was stifled and things settled down for the gauchos. Their natural abilities for riding allow them to tend cattle for ranch owners but the number of gaucho has decrease due to the expansion of the cities and the use of new technologies. 
    Nowadays, they still exist in the pampa regions of Argentina, where their style influenced the fashion, by combining rustic, traditional and hardworking habits to the country.  

The traditional outfit is made up of :

  • Bombacha, from spanish language, is the name of the large trousers.

  • Poncho, from the Quechua (Andes' language), used against the wind and the cold.

  • Guaiaca, from the Quechua too, it designed the external pocket made of leather.

  • Chiripa, overpants made of leather or cotton.

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