Folk costume is a traditional way of dressing the rural population. Through it, the rural population expressed their artistic and textile skills and met their clothing needs. It used to be made of natural materials in handicrafts, and with the strengthening of purchasing power and industrialization, the rural population began to use purchased materials in its production. Thanks to resisting fashion trends, folk costumes have largely retained their original shape. It was worn in our region until the Second World War, and in some parts it is still worn today and represents a living tradition. Many of the techniques of making parts and decorations of folk costumes are protected and entered in the register of intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia - Pag, Lepoglava and Svetomarska lace, Hvar agave lace, making lace in Primosten and Rogoznica, gold embroidery, Baranja shocking embroidery, Ivanec embroidery, Konavle embroidery, the technique of decorating with pukanica from Čuntić, making svetonedjeljskog i bistranjskog kraluža (jewelry), the art of knitting women's headbands, making traditional women's hairstyles from Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem are just some of them. Today, the national costume is a national symbol of every nation and is an indispensable part of its culture. It is part of its cultural heritage as well as cultural heritage. The aim of this paper is to explain the elements of culture that influenced the creation of folk costumes and the way in which some of the symbols can be read and thus explain the issue of how folk costumes nonverbally communicate with other members of society.