Man in Sami Norwegian national costume, Finnmark, North Norway

The costume is derived from clothing worn by the Sami people, (also spelled Saami), one of the indigenous people of northern Europe inhabiting Sapmi, which today encompasses parts of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia, as well as the border area between south and middle Sweden.

This form of clothing, known as gakti, is traditionally worn both in ceremonial contexts and while working, particularly when herding reindeer.

The colours, patterns and the jewellery of the clothing can tell if a person is single or married and where the person is from, with different gakti for women and men; men's gakti have a shorter "skirt" than women's. Traditionally made from reindeer leather, it is now commonly made of wool, cotton or silk.

PHOTO SOURCE: Johan Wildhagen, Innovation Norway, courtesy of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry.

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