Clothing and Identity in Cuzco

It was interesting to notice the clothing trends among locals in Cuzco. Whenever I saw more traditional clothing, it was often the women that were wearing it. Even then, it tended to be older women; for example, the women that were offering pictures with llamas had been walking around in what seemed to be traditional wear. On the other hand, I have seen men overwhelmingly wearing clothes that are usually associated with more Western styles. Seeing this reminds me of one of our discussions in class about the value of women in Peruvian society. They carry the responsibility of preserving Peruvian culture as they are considered to be the ones that should teach the following generations about what makes up an important part of their identity.

In a way, it feels as though they capitalize on this so that they can give off the sense that what they are selling is an authentic reflection of the culture. The irony is that wearing streetwear has actually become a part of Peruvian culture. Something funny I witnessed was when I saw a woman wearing a poncho that looked like it had traditional patterns and designs, I also noticed that she was wearing Adidas leggings underneath the poncho. More than anything, this represents how modern streetwear is a more accurate representation of the average woman who is not trying to sell anything to tourists.

On the other hand, I noticed that in the restaurants that cater to tourists, the wait staff were more likely to dress in business casual outfits. It might be because they want the customers to think that the restaurant gives off the impression of being a higher end restaurant. For instance, servers at a cafe like La Valeriana make the experience fancier by doing so while baristas at my local Starbucks wear black shirts, jeans, and green aprons. However, this could also be a manifestation of the fact that those who work in the food industry work in a less casual atmosphere than in the United States. This could be why the servers here appear to have a stricter dress code while at work. Regardless of what people’s clothing says about Cuzco, it has been fascinating to see how formative tourism has been in the development of the city’s ever-changing culture.