The hippie movement and the Vietnam War expanded the consciousness of North American youth in more ways than one. In the late 60s, ethnic looks held a lot of appeal for adolescents who wanted to expand their consciousness of the world beyond American shores. Delicate ethnic jewelry, heavy ponchos, wide skirts, and everything in between adorned and draped the bodies of these protesters against parochial thinking – and parochial fashion.

Hippies started it, wanting to express fellowship with all the peoples of the world. But in the 70s the craze for ethnic looks entered the mainstream. Head kerchiefs, straw espadrilles, macrame tams – items from all over got stitched into Western fashion by enterprising designers. Kente cloth and beads came from Africa, batiks and peasant skirts from India. From south of the border came Mexican serape ponchos and leather huarachi sandals. 

From even closer to home, Native American designs inspired a desire for silver and turquoise jewelry. And the many ethnic styles helped inspire a reinvention of Americana, with homegrown fashions - crocheted shawls, patchwork jeans and prints, ginghams and quilted calicos – joining with garments from far and wide in one big parade of brilliant ethnic variety.