Traditional Dress

Most countries have traditional clothing, but Madagascar is unique in that traditional clothing is worn by both men and women. This is one of the things about Madagascar you should know. A lamba is a traditional Madagascar garment worn by both men and women. The textile is a rectangular length of cloth wrapped around the torso and is particularly symbolic of Malagasy culture. Different designs, colors, and materials are required for different occasions. Lambas with red, white, and black stripes may be seen all over the island, whereas lambas with green and brown geometric patterns can be found in Skalava settlements. They're also useful for securing babies to the backs of their parents.

Traditional funeral lambas were frequently made of silk and cow hides, whereas daily wear lambas were more commonly made of raffia, pig skin, cotton, or bast. They could be a tie-dyed mess or a solid white cloth, or they could be striped red, white, and black cloth found throughout the island, geometric patterns in unique shades of green and brown produced by a handful of Sakalava villages, or brilliantly multi-colored, complex weaves favored by the pre-colonial Merina aristocracy. In addition to those made locally, it is now usual to find printed cotton or rayon lambas made in India for the Malagasy market.

The lamba is used for attaching children to mothers' backs or as a cushion when carrying a heavy object on top of the head, in addition to its everyday use as basic clothing. The lamba is also used to wrap the bodies of the deceased before they are buried in the family tomb. Following the ritual, these are placed on the dead as a mark of respect for their souls.