Bonsk Apparel

Bonsk style clothing is functional, versatile, and inexpensive. Originating in Bonsk area, it can occasionally be encountered anywhere in Riddari. It is generally oversized and floppy and made of natural materials (woven grass being very common). Because of the material and style, it is excellent camouflage when in the Riddari grasslands.
Various parts of the outfit may be decorated with trinkets, bobbles, tassels, ribbons, etc. These decorations are very specific and personal to the wearer’s occupation, status, experience and/or family. Wearing the wrong (or Heaven forbid, deliberately misleading) decoration(s) is a form of “stolen valor” and may cause very negative (sometimes violent) reactions among the populace. It is much, much, safer to wear no decorations if you are not intimately familiar with the local customs and etiquette.

Bonsk Raffia - This is a wide brimmed floppy hat woven from grass or reeds. It is large enough to keep the rain and sun off the back of the neck and the face. Women's hats typically have a wider brim, and they often wear a tan or green purdah or scarf wrapped around their head and neck, sometimes over the hat. Children have narrow brims or no brim (just a woven cone). The hats are nearly always drab tan and/or brown. New hats may have a tinge of green before they cure. The hats are rarely dyed (except ceremonial or festival/special occasion hats, which may be quite colorful but are only worn a few times a year. Adults normally have a colored braided band around the crown of the hat. The colors (actual color, and number of colors) usually reflect station and/or wealth. Purple is a rare color that only a few people can wear. Children use braids of woven plant fiber or animal hair with no color/dye. A token is typically placed in the band. This token is a symbol of what the wearer of the had does. Wheat farmers have a stalk of wheat, hay farmers have a length of straw, chicken farmers might have a feather, cattle/horse/pig farmers may have a tuft of animal fur, vegetable/fruit farmers might have a dried piece of their wares stuck in the braid. Richer folk, and those that no wearable natural item for a symbol, will often have small bangles attached to the braid. These can get quite elaborate and expensive for narcissistic people wanting to show off a bit. Wearing the wrong symbol or bangle in you hat band is a big social taboo and may even make natives think you are being dishonest, deceptive, and/or trying to pull something.
Bonsk Kameez - This is a woven grass/reed garment that is equal parts tunic, jerkin, poncho, kilt, coat, and dress. The design is very simple. It is little more than a woven blanket with a slit cut in the center for your head and rectangular swaths stitched on for half-sleeves. The wide-shouldered shirt that is tied at the waist and hangs nearly down to the knees on men. Women's tunics hang below the knees and can go down to the ankles. Children's tunics are shorter, coming to mid-thigh. The tunics have sleeves that comes to the elbow, but only goes half-way around the arm, so the armpits/triceps area is exposed. The "sleeves" are loosely tied at the elbow with a woven undyed braid. A sleeveless potato-sack style shirt of soft material (usually wool or cotton) is sometimes worn under the tunic (to reduce chafing), but it is not unusual to wear nothing under the tunic. Tunics are nearly always unadorned and of natural colors (tan or a variety of tan) except ceremonial and/or special occasion versions, which can have astounding colors and patterns. A wide sash clinches the tunic at the waist. It can be woven grass/reeds, leather, cotton, or wool. Adults almost always dye their sash. The colors and number of colors project importance and/or wealth. The tunic can be used as a bedroll small tent, bag, pillow, and a multitude of other things. They are quite versatile. It can have added sashes to close the gaps in cold weather. Men always knot their sashes on their left side, married women on the right, male children in the front center, and female children centered behind. Having the sash knotted on the wrong side will get you laughed at by the natives. A centered sash after you are 18-21 (unmarried adults) will have the old women bugging you about why you have not found a partner yet. Both situations can lead to very awkward social situations.
Bonsk Beeches - These are standard breeches. They are typically made of wool, buckskin, or other supple leather. They are usually tight and form fitting. The real thing that sets them apart is that they have no crotch. You groin and buttocks are fully exposed (conveniently covered by the kameez). In this outfit, you can urinate/defecate with ease and without exposing yourself, just watch out for strong upward breezes. Most people find them extremely comfortable once they get over the initial shock. In cold weather a diaper type affair may be worn under the tunic over the breeches. Children rarely wear breeches and wrap their legs in fur in the winter.
Bonsk Boots/shoes - Footwear is typically large over-sized thigh high boots with a woven insole and sometimes a wooden sole. They are made of oiled leather/buckskin. Normally they worn rolled or hanging down at the knee. Fur wraps may be added over the boots in cold weather. Those not working in the fields, might wear knee stockings under the breeches and low leather shoes made like the boots. Children almost always go barefoot or wear sandals and use wrapped furs in the winter.