All Bhutanese wear national dress. The men wear the traditional gho, a long robe, tied at the waist with a slim belt (kera) and pulled up to hang just below the knee and to form a useful pouch above the waist. This open pouch is used to carry a whole host of objects, – files, documents, knives, purses, etc. A cotton undershirt with broad white cuffs (lagay), folded back over the gho sleeves, completes the outfit. The gho is often made from hand woven check material of wool or silk. Knee-length socks and Western style shoes are usually worn with the gho.
The women wear a kira, an ankle length garment made from beautifully coloured, hand woven cotton or silk, which is rapidly replaced by synthetic fabrics from India. The kira is fastened at the waist with a broad belt and at the shoulders with silver and/or gold clasps. A blouse (wonju) and a short jacket (toego) compliment the colours of the kira.