Worldbuilding

Might as well start posting, what we need is content. This is a fairly old post that I once shared in reddit.

Hello r/Worldbuilding! this is an image I’ve been working on for quite a while now; it showcases a bit of what I believe an average Angaran person would look like, and what they would wear.

First, a little bit of context on the setting itself.

Angara is a mountainous peninsula on the easternmost end of the Ulhar continent. It is surrounded by sea on all sides, only connected to the mainland only by a narrow isthmus on its southwestern end. The peninsula itself stretches across almost 10 degrees of latitudes, granting it a wide range of climates, ranging from subtropical on the south to subpolar on its northern tip.

Its geographical location, isolated nature, and wide range of climates have pushed the region to develop a very rich cultural history and identity. The peninsula and surrounding islands are home to the Angars, the Bengars, the Norn and Silué peoples, and a few other ethnic groups. Among these, the largest ethnic groups are the Angars, who occupy most of the central and southern portion of the peninsula, and the Norn people, who inhabit the northern tip of the region, and the surrounding islands.

The particular timeframe this image is concerned with is the pre- and proto-Imperial period. During this era, the Angaran peninsula was transitioning from a politically fractured region ruled by small clans, lords, and chieftains, to a unified—albeit decentralized—empire. This is particularly relevant, as people’s identities during this transitional period were heavily influenced by their membership and allegiances to each of these clans.

As the population of the peninsula grew in size, clans started coalescing into more centralized, larger political entities. At the same time, discontent among the lower class and religion brought forth a series of successful rebellions that eventually culminated in the formation of the Angaran League, the political entity that would later give way to the Angaran Empire.

Now, for the image. In it, we see two Angars, a man and a woman, wearing attires traditional to western Angara. The man wears plain yet colourful clothes, commonly seen among farmers of the region. The woman wears clothes that are much more vibrant and varied in colour, suggesting a middle-class upbringing, possibly from a major city in the region. The use of greens also points towards the south, to Bengar influence.

The 7-pointed hat. The 7-pointed hat is a staple of the Angaran lower-class. These hats are widely used by farmers to protect against the sun and the rain. The particulars of the design vary from region to region, changing in size, colours and materials.

The drooping hat. A different take on protection against the elements, the drooping hat is a style seen more often in the southern regions of Angara, usually made of unadorned straw.

Skirts. Skirts are a piece of clothing iconic to the Angar peoples. While skirts exist in many other cultures around the world, few make such a consistent use of the garment across all social classes and cultural groups. In particular, long and colourful wrap-around skirts are traditionally Angaran garments.

Angaran Clogs. Angaran clogs are a type of sandals with a wooden sole that is hinged to provide some measure of flexibility. They are usually fastened with leather straps or cords. Angaran clogs are worn year-round. To cope with winter temperatures soft fur boots can be worn and fastened to the clogs.

Belts and sashes. The basic wide sash is mostly practical in purpose. It is there to hold the skirt up and to keep shirts neatly tucked. However, it is common to see people, particularly in cities, wearing a wide assortment of decorated belts and sashes on top of that. These are usually decorated with motifs and patterns related to the wearer’s clan. One of these is seen being worn by the woman.

There’s a lot more to unpack but I’d rather answer questions than post a/another huge infodump.