TRADITIONAL ARABIAN CLOTHES

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Arab women, for the most part, dress conservatively. There are many traditions in Arab countries where many women wear clothes that don’t hide their heads or their wigs.  While others do, depending on the country they live in, their personal preferences, or their social status. A conservative woman may dress in an “Ab ayah”, a long black cloth that covers the head from the shoulders to the feet. She could be dressed in a native Arabian dress, the “thaw”, or in more modern designer clothes under this blanket. A very conservative woman should wear a headdress and headdress in addition to the Ab ayah. Some women tend to wear an Ab ayah without the forehead or face covering, while others prefer it. In this article, we will discuss different types of traditional Arabian clothes. 

ARABIAN CLOTHING TERMINOLOGY

Thawb Thobe Styles of Robe

A thawb, thobe, or dishdasha is a lower leg robe-like garment with long sleeves. In the Arab Peninsula and certain neighboring countries, it is mostly worn by men. Cotton is commonly used, but heavier materials like as sheep’s wool, especially in colder climes, can also be utilized.

The thawb/ thobe style changes slightly depending on where you are in the Gulf. To make the shirt look more formal, tighten the sleeves and collar.

A very long, enormous woman’s clothing with a highly embroidered front panel is also known as a thawb or thobe.

Keffiyeh

The keffiyeh (also yashmag) is a traditional Arab male headdress made of a square of cloth (or scarf) folded and wrapped in various patterns around the head, usually cotton (or a cotton-linen blend for winter ). It is used in desert climates to cover the lips and eyesight from blowing dust and sand, as well as to provide protection from excessive sun exposure. There really are local differences. An igal, or rope circle, is often used to hold the keffiyeh in place.

The keffiyeh is sometimes accompanied by a skullcap. The keffiyeh is almost usually made with white cotton fabric, but many have a red or black plaid pattern embroidered on it. Now in the United States, the plain white keffiyeh is the most common. And in Kuwait and Bahrain, virtually no other style is tolerated. In the Levant, the black and white keffiyeh is the most popular.

 The red and white keffiyeh is popular in all these regions but is particularly identified with Jordan. Bedouins have worn it for centuries as a badge of dignity and tribal identification.

Igal

The igal (sometimes spelled agal) is a cord accessory that is wrapped around the Kaffiyeh to keep it in place. In most cases, the igal is black in color.

An igal is usually constructed of black cord wrapped tightly around a core of goat wool or bunched fabric.

Photos by Getty Images

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BY: ALI KHAN

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