ribbon shirts

Ribbon shirts are traditional garments worn by many Indigenous peoples of North America, characterized by colorful ribbon strips sewn onto the fabric, typically across the chest, back, and sleeves.

The ribbons often carry cultural and spiritual significance, with colors and patterns reflecting tribal identity or personal meaning.

Originally adapted from European trade cloth in the 18th and 19th centuries, ribbon shirts remain important regalia for ceremonies, powwows, and formal occasions: He wore his ribbon shirt to the graduation ceremony.