Basque Country *
Berets came to be popularized across Europe and other parts of the world as typical Basque headgear, as reflected in their name in several languages (e.g. béret basque in French, Baskenmütze in German, Basco in Italian or baskeri in Finnish). They are very popular and common in the Basque Country. The colors adopted for folk costumes varied by region, red in Gipuzkoa, white in Álava, blue in Biscay, but eventually the Basques settled on blue berets and the people of Navarre and Aragon adopted red berets while the black beret became the common headgear of workers in France and Spain.[3] The small stub in the centre of a beret is sometimes known by its Basque name, txortena meaning "stalk".[18] Berets are still manufactured in the Basque country.
France
The black beret was once considered the national cap of France in Anglo-Saxon countries and is part of the stereotypical image of the Onion Johnny. It is no longer as widely worn as it once was, but it remains a strong sign of local identity in the south west of France. When French people want to picture themselves as "the typical average Frenchman" in France or in a foreign country, they often use this stereotype from Anglo-Saxon countries. There are only two manufacturers left in France, Laulhère and Blancq-Olibet. The beret still remains a strong symbol of the unique identity of southwestern France and is worn, while celebrating traditional events.
