What Do Mariachi Bands Wear?

Mariachis wear a suit called traje de charro. Historically, el traje de charro has evolved over time.

Prior to the 1930s, Mariachis wore white robes and sandals for social town gatherings. Although, mariachi music has always been recognized as a Mexican genre it was regarded as music for peasants. However, due to the Mexican revolution and the creation of the radio, the nation searched for an identity to represent the newborn Mexico. Mariachis quickly became a national icon as their music aired through the radio and gained acceptance in Mexico's folklore.

In the 1930s mariachis were then featured on television with artists such as Jorge Negrete and Pedro Infante. The peasant like outfits became unpopular among critics, and the producers called for the suits to be upgraded for approval ratings. The upgraded version we know today was influenced by charreria outfits. In the charreada events, which is similar to the American rodeo,  land owners displayed their wealth with more expensive decorations on their suits. Eventually, musicians adopted the “charro” look. To this day each member in a mariachi group is referred to as a charro. 

The traje de charro of today is the elegant representation of the highest ranking in Mexico's culture. The typical black suit with silver decorations is known as the traje de gala. The word gala refers to a social occasion with special entertainments or performances. There is certain pride that goes in wearing el traje de charro. For instance, It is commonly considered disrespectful for mariachis to take off their jackets or moños during performances/breaks. They represent Mexico to the highest standards and should be reflected in the way they dress, behave, and perform.