Farewell Countercultural Wanderer? Dress and Styles in South Asian Backpacking

Abstract

The word “backpacker” produces a particular image in our minds, and is often thought of as a countercultural wanderer dressed in “ethnic” styles. Over time, backpacking has progressively widened its sociocultural base and “drifters” are being consigned to the margins. The transition has only been acknowledged recently, though the seeds of the change were planted decades ago. Previously unpublished research on the dress and styles of 112 backpackers, collected during the 1990s, provided insights into the changes that have occurred in South Asia. On the “beaten track” of international travel, it can be difficult to separate backpackers from conventional tourists if one relies on their appearance. While alternative developments are also occurring, “mainstream” backpacking appears to be increasingly conformist with its new styles and interests.