Anthropological Analysis of Traditional Clothing of the People of Ilam City

Abstract

Familiarity with the culture and inherited heritage of a nation requires the examination, study, understanding, and interpretation of the relationships between the foundations, phenomena, and social manifestations existing within that society. One of the most valuable representations of a society’s cultural life is its clothing and the type of attire worn by its people. The aim of this study is to identify the factors that, over time, have influenced the traditional clothing of the people of Ilam. In this regard, the research draws upon the functionalist school, Malinowski’s theory of needs, Tylor’s theory of survivals, and the diffusionist school. The research methodology includes case study, fieldwork, and interviews. It is noteworthy that the current form of headwear and body clothing among the people of Ilam, as explained in this article, has been influenced by several key factors: the passage of time and political changes; the social activities of men and women; ethnic identity; climatic and geographical conditions; livelihood patterns; cultural and religious beliefs of the community; the functional role of each clothing component; and the social status of individuals.