Pedi Traditional Dresses

The Pedi traditional attire is the most colourful of the South African Traditional Dresses. SePedi attire is made mostly in combinations of bright pinks, turquoise, Yellow sometimes blue and white. The rich and vibrant colours represent happiness. 

The Sepedi Traditional womens’ attire will include the “hele” (the inner fabric which is tied on the waist) “metsheka” (a cloth tied on the top part of the dress) to match the “moruka”head accessory. Doeks or headscarfs also form part of the Pedi traditional Attire. 

Much like most cultures in South Africa, The Pedi people, are renowned for their bead work designs with rich colours. Traditional outfits for women  can range from calf length skirts, pleated blouses and long voluminous dresses. Common designs found on Pedi clothing includes; pleats, embroidery or ribbon trimmings. 

Age old traditional SePedi attire included a front apron (ntepa) and back aprons (lebole) for women which were made from strips of animal skin. These traditional aprons are no longer worn, they have been replaced with modernised waist cloths. 

Pedi men wear colourful kilts as part of their traditional attire. It is still not known how these traditional kilts came to be part of the Pedi Traditional Attire for men. Many myths and stories about the origin of these kilts have been shared through folklore.