Once the Spanish introduced horses and horned cattle to South America, the gaucho was created. The Argentinian gauchos are horsemen and livestock farmers. They live very simply, stemming from their nomadic roots. A gaucho lives by working and selling animal hides as he pleases in addition to guiding travelers, so the gaucho dress has to accompany him wherever he goes and accommodate this lifestyle. Once the gauchos made up a large portion of the military in the fight for Argentina’s independence, they became a celebrated national symbol. The community of gauchos are joined by paisanas, or countrywomen, both with a recognizable dress.

The purpose of this project is to explore the traditional dress of the Argentinian gaucho and paisana, and interpret the findings into a contemporary garment. In doing this, I will be researching my own Argentinian background. The dress worn, which remains a national symbol, is a testament to their humble and migratory lifestyle. The garment created from the research is an exploration of criollo loom weaving, which is used to construct gaucho and paisana ponchos. One of the most valuable pieces of clothing in a gaucho’s life is the poncho, as it acted as a shield against weather, a blanket, and pillow. The garment also incorporates a leather skirt, a reference to the hide the gauchos use and sell. With this project, I hope to expand public knowledge of the Argentinian gaucho and celebrate their clothing which has influenced clothing globally.