The diverse world of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is characterized by the four elemental nations and the colors that represent them. Red and orange tones represent the Fire Nation, green and brown are the Earth Kingdom, blue represents the Water Tribes and the orange and yellow robes of the monks paired with the blue arrow tattoos represent the Air Nomads.
With Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the beloved series coming out Thursday, take a look at the various cultures that have inspired the fashion of the four nations.
The Water Tribes
Members of the Northern and Southern Water Tribes are known for their heavy, fur-lined coats that are worn due to the cold climate. The women’s coats tend to have a belted waist and are often longer than the men’s coats. Traditionally the coats are made of reindeer and seal skin hides which provide warmth in the harsh wintery conditions.
The fashion of the Water Tribe is inspired by the traditional clothing of the indigenous Inuit people of Arctic Canada, northern and southwestern Alaska as well as the Arctic and subarctic regions of Kalaallit Nunaat, Greenland.
During season three, episode 11 of the animated series, “The Day of the Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse,”, Katara and Sokka are seen wearing glasses during a solar eclipse. These glasses are based on sunglasses worn by the Inuit people which are traditionally made of walrus ivory or wood and are used to protect their eyes from snow blindness.
Both Water Tribes wear various shades of blue as it represents their element, yet the color purple is worn almost exclusively in the Northern Water Tribe, creating a distinction between the two tribes.
The Air Nomads
The Air Nomads wear simple robes that reflect the simplicity of their lifestyle. Their clothing becomes more layered as a monk increases in position or skill. Wooden necklaces are worn by those on the council, signifying their rank within their community and nation.
Airbenders receive blue arrow tattoos on their arms and head once they have mastered their element. To show their tattoos the men of the air nation shave their heads completely while the women only shave the front half.
The clothing and culture of the Air Nomads is inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist monks. The similarities can be seen in their robes and cultural values.
The simple robes worn by the Tibetan Buddhist monks are a representation of their renouncement of worldly pleasure, similar to the values seen in Avatar Aang and the other members of the air nation throughout the animated series.
Red is the most commonly worn color among Tibetan monks, representing the sacred realm in Tibet. Other colors such as yellow and saffron are worn rarely by Tibetan monks but are more commonly worn by the Air Nomads in the show.
The Fire Nation
The Fire Nation is one of the smallest nations in the Avatar universe and yet the clothing seems to have the greatest variety in style out of any of the four nations.
The majority of the clothing in the Fire Nation is inspired by Southeast Asian cultures.
The Fire Nation’s royal family is the wealthiest and most powerful family in the Avatar universe and as a result, they wear more elaborate robes than any other characters, especially Fire Lord Ozai.
The spiked-shouldered robes worn by the nation’s leader are inspired by Thai theatrical costumes.
The outfit that Princess Azula wears while visiting her family’s home on Ember Island is based on traditional Thai clothing. One of Azula’s right-hand girls, Mai, dons a bandeau top and flowing pants that bears a resemblance to the Vietnamese Ao Dai, a traditional dress that often consists of a long tunic, layered over silk or cotton pants.
The people of the Fire Nation typically wear shades of red, black, and gold. Pink and brown are also occasionally worn.
The Earth Kingdom
The Earth Kingdom is the largest of the four nations in the Avatar universe. As a result, the clothing styles tend to vary depending on the location within the kingdom but are all inspired by traditional Chinese cultures and clothing.
In Toph Beifong’s hometown of Gaoling, the fashion is based on the Hanfus from the early Tang Dynasty while the outfits from the upper ring of Ba Sing Se are based on the Cheongsams of the Qing Dynasty.
The Kyoshi warriors, an elite group of non-bending, female warriors, defenders of their home on Kyoshi Island, wear suits of armor that are based on traditional samurai armor.
Members of the Earth Kingdom typically wear shades of greens and browns, though they are not limited to those colors. The civilians of Kyoshi Island wear shades of blue as well as gold details.
The Avatar universe represents a diverse array of cultures, creating a pulchritudinous variety of attire. Keep an eye out while watching Netflix’s live-action adaptation to see how these styles are brought to life.
