This dissertation investigated traditional dress of Arsi Oromo focusing on identification of dressrntypes with age, gender and status. Though various research works were conducted on the historyrnand culture of Oromo people, the focus of those works on documentation was limited. Therefore,rnthis study was designed to describe and document traditional dress among Arsi Oromo. Thernstudy drew on qualitative research approach mainly ethnographic research. Purposive samplingrntechnique was employed to select three districts of West Arsi zone namely Kokosa, Kofele andrnAdaba. consultants were also selected using purposive and snowball sapling. Observation,rninterview and focus group discussion were the major tools of generating primary data.rnSecondary sources related to the topic of the study were thoroughly reviewed to bridge thernexisting knowledge gap. Also, modern multimedia technologies and apparatuses were utilized torndigitally record and analyze visual images of vernacular dress types.rnThe findings of the study indicated that Arsi Oromo traditional dress is gender specific. It wasrnfound that in addition to their function as utility or ornamentation, traditional dresses serve asrnsacred objects, status indicators and identity markers in general. The findings also demonstraternthat there is a change and continuation in the use and functions of traditional dress among thernpeople. Currently, traditional dress is limited to the age groups, on average 35 and above yearsrnof age. The dressing style of children and the young generation under these age groups are fastrnchanging due to various of reasons such as formal education, access to the urban life, andrninfluences of religion The findings further revealed that despite changing perceptions and flavorrnof the young generation in favor of modern dresses, folk tradition, particularly, oral literaturernplays an important role in the preservation of traditional dress. There are oral narratives, storiesrnand plays which appreciate indigenous culture and teach the youth to uphold tradition,rnparticularly material cultures. There is also an individual effort made to preserve traditionalrndress. Moreover, there are cultural groups of females such as â€˜siinqeeâ€™ group who try tornpreserve traditional clothes and jewelries by making and decorating those traditional dresses.rnThe findings suggest that it is very important to preserve traditional clothes whose uses arerncurrently declining and, in some places, vanishing due to multiple factors. In this regard, thoughrnthere are limited and sporadic activities performed by the zone as well as district level tourismrnand culture bureaus, still individual efforts predominate. Therefore, it was recommended thatrnconcerned bodies should take part in teaching people, particularly the youth, about the culturalrnsignificance of traditional dress and the need for its preservatation.