Clothes
Liberia has 16 recognized ethnic groups, and traditional clothing varies across them, but some common threads run through rural and ceremonial wear:
- Lappa and buppa: Women traditionally wear a "lappa," a long wrap skirt tied at the waist, paired with a "buppa," a loose-fitting matching blouse, often finished with a coordinating headscarf.
- Via: Men's traditional wear includes the "via," a round-necked shirt paired with shorts or long pants.
- Country cloth: One of Liberia's most important traditional textiles is country cloth, a handwoven fabric produced on narrow looms and joined into wider pieces, traditionally woven by men for garments and ceremonial wear, with patterns reflecting community identity and heritage.
- Fabrics tend to be vivid and bold — tie-dye and bright prints are especially popular for festivals, weddings, and dance ceremonies.
In urban areas, Liberians generally wear Western-style clothing — T-shirts, tank tops, shorts — similar to what you'd see in the US or Europe, usually in lightweight cotton or linen to handle the heat and humidity. Liberia also has a strong second-hand clothing market that shapes everyday style, letting people mix imported pieces with traditional garments. Western-style wedding fashion — white gowns, veils, tuxedos - has also become standard for city weddings, even as rural celebrations may still incorporate traditional grass skirts and ceremonial dress.
