Ethnogoth is a niche fashion substyle within the Goth subculture that originated in the mid-2010s. The aesthetic is defined by its fusion of traditional and folk clothing (primarily from the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe) with a dark, 80s-inspired Goth foundation of dramatic makeup and accessories.[1] The term itself, a portmanteau of "ethnic" and "goth," was coined by its proponents to describe their style, which they viewed as a thoughtful invocation of history and tradition.[2]
The style gained visibility within the European Goth scene, particularly around the annual Wave Gotik Treffen (WGT) festival in Germany, and was popularized on Instagram through the #ethnogoth hashtag.
Fashion[]
Clothing[]
The Ethnogoth aesthetic is characterized by loose, flowing, and often full-body garments that conceal the silhouette, in stark contrast to many other Goth styles. The most common centerpiece is a kaftan or kandoora, typically in black, made from natural fabrics.[1] This simple base is then heavily adorned with a multitude of metallic accessories. The style emphasizes excessive layering of silver and gold jewelry, including large pendants, bracelets, and elaborate headdresses. A particularly influential source for this jewelry is traditional Kuchi ornamentation from Afghanistan. The approach to fashion was intended to be gender-neutral, with participants wearing traditional garments indiscriminately of their original gendered use.[2]
Hair and Makeup[]
Inspired by artists like Sopor Aeternus, hairstyles in the Ethnogoth scene often feature shaved or partially shaved heads. The remaining hair is sometimes backcombed in the style of Trad Goth. Makeup is typically dramatic, with a focus on dark, smokey eyes reminiscent of the Romantic Goth style, often paired with facial adornments like a nath (a nose ring connected to the ear by a chain).[1]
Criticism[]
The Ethnogoth aesthetic faced sustained criticism for cultural appropriation. The practice of taking traditional and sometimes sacred garments, jewelry, and adornments from a wide range of cultures—most notably Berber, Ottoman, and Afghan—and combining them into a decontextualized fashion statement was seen by many as problematic.
Critics argued that the aesthetic exoticized and commodified other cultures, reducing items of deep historical and cultural significance to mere props for a Western Goth subculture. This controversy is believed to be the primary reason for the style's decline among its original pioneers, many of whom stopped using the #ethnogoth tag and moved on to other styles after facing accusations of appropriation.[1]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Ethnogoth" on fuckyeahurbantribes.blogspot.com (in Spanish)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "#ethnogoth" by cease2xxist on Medium.
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| Goth Subculture | ||
| Primary Aesthetics | ||
|
Goth 𓋹 Deathrock 𓋹 Romantic Goth 𓋹 Trad Goth 𓋹 Victorian Goth | ||
| Fusion and Inspired Aesthetics | ||
|
Bubble Goth 𓋹 Corporate Goth 𓋹 Cybergoth 𓋹 Ethnogoth 𓋹 Fetish Goth 𓋹 Gothabilly 𓋹 Health Goth 𓋹 Mallgoth 𓋹 Nu-Goth 𓋹 Pastel Goth 𓋹 Perky Goth 𓋹 Tribal Goth 𓋹 White Goth | ||