Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer

Left: Marcela Días (left) and Ana Días model traditional Mexican dresses from the towns of Veracruz and Chiapas, respectively. The ladies definitely added much colour to the Mexican National Day reception. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer.   Right: Paula Muñoz-Hernández, daughter of Deputy Head of Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Madai Hernandez, proudly shows of the flamboyant national costume - Llanera dress - of the central region of the country. - Photo by Shelly-Ann Thompson

Today, Jamaicans celebrate and highlight heroes of then and now, heroes who have enriched, our culture and set a rich and lasting legacy for future generations. However, heritage is not only limited to one aspect of lifestyle.

Flair spoke with three female heads of missions here in Jamaica about their national dress and fashion in their homeland.

Venezuela - 'fashion is important'

"Venezuelan women are very concerned about the way they look," said Deputy Head of Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Madai Hernández.

"Women spend a lot of money to be well-dressed ... It's like a competition of who dresses the best among women. Even if the women are very poor, they try to look very well-dressed and beautiful, especially for their husbands," she added.

This might be true as Venezuelan women are known to be within the top ranks of several international beauty contests. The biggest difference in terms of fashion between Jamaica and Venezuela might be how women are dressed for work, said Hernández. While stockings are a must for work for women.

( L - R ) 1,   2,  3,  4

1. - South African High Commission Advocate, Faith D'Radebe, wears the colourful and intricately-designed national costume of the Zulu tribe of her homeland. D'Radebe told Flair that the dress of South African women has very much been modernised; that myths of African women walking around half naked in pieces of cloth should be dispelled. However, the rich colours, natural materials and intricate designs are still evident in South African women's wear. In Africa, a woman's clothing can incorporate beaded and woven skirts, blankets and cloaks with motifs. The colourful jewellery is made from metal, including copper, grasses and beads. There are different tribes in South Africa, such as the Zulu, the Venda and the Ndebele. Rach has its own traditional dress that constitutes formal wear.

2. - The traditional and formal wear of the Xhosa tribe of South Africa.

3. - The traditonal and formal wear of the Tswana Tribe of South Africa.

4. - Pedi tribe traditional or formal wear in South Africa.