In Nepal, all men are required to wear the traditional Topi – the Nepalese hat – when their photo is taken for their identity papers. Pride in tradition is also important to Barat, a nostalgic hotel manager who prefers to wear the dress of Nepal’s ancient kings.
Military fatigue dress, though, is all the rage among young people, probably because it had been banned during the civil war between Maoist supporters and the king.
Nepalese women affirm their identity in a much more subtle way. The ‘cholo’ is part of their traditional dress, a little vest that is knotted on the side and usually worn with a sari, a knotted long skirt. Laxmi, like all married women, has always worn the cholo, just like her daughter will do after her own wedding.
People also dress in white - not for weddings though. Nepalese men and boys, dress in white at their parents’ death. They withdraw from society, even if they are only 8 years old.
In Nepal, the various ethnic groups continue to have a strong sense of dress. We meet Kanchi from the Sherpa ethnic group who proudly wears a traditional apron. There are some 102 different ethnic groups in the country who account for 60% of the population. And they are just as proud of their identity and wear their traditional dress like Kanchi does..