Clothing from East Greenland VI. The traditional clothing of East Greenland

Whaling suit: qartiipasalik
In former times the people of East Greenland used a waterproof leather suit (qartiipasalik) while hunting whale. This was a combination of boots, trousers, sleeves, mittens, jacket and hood, all sewn together into one unit.


Drawing of a whaling suit

The suit could be pulled on via a hole in the front, at waist height, then fastened with a leather thong. According to some informants, several inhabitants of the Ammassalik region were still wearing this kind of suit in 1884, from superstition. This kind of waterproof combination suit was probably not found outside Greenland.


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