Massai Cape

Leather cape of a married Massai woman, decorated with glass beads of different sizes, tassels and buttons. Divided into age groups, Massai men and women wear age and gender specific garments. Young women wear leather skirts with a profusion of necklaces. . After marriage they also cover their breasts with leather capes such as this one. The beading can place the garments geographically, the Tanzanian Massai have more ornate designs, use blue and red beads and stick to the traditional hides while the Kenyan Massai prefer orange and light blue beads and wear factory made cloths.