Moroccan Clothing – From Fez to Djellaba
Written by admin on 06 April 2012
Moroccan Clothing
Morocco is a country rich in history, traditions, people, and culture. Every part of these aspects influences how Moroccan people are dressed. Among the variety of clothes you will find in Morocco,
The Djellaba and Gandora are the most common.These fine garments speak of the luxurious clothing style of the country.
The djellaba, a typical robe that you cannot miss from the very first few seconds after arriving in Morocco. According to the many people we have met who have professed to be experts in many areas, there are three basic types of djellaba for men and two basic everyday options for women. For both sexes, the machzania or “government” djellaba is the most common throughout the country. For the men, there are also the northern and the southern djellaba, and for the women there is the kaftanlamic religion of Morocco is also a key factor in the way that Moroccan people dress. The djellaba covers the whole body and is therefore an acceptable modest outfit.
The Gandora unlike the djellaba dosn’t have a hood,and normally has short sleeves.This Gandora has strong embroidery on the neck and sleeve openings,a pocket on one side and a slit on the other. Like the Djellaba the Gandora is a very traditional moroccan garment.
The traditional dress
The traditional dress for men is called a djellaba, a long, loose, hooded garment with full sleeves. For special occasions, men also wear a red cap called tarboosh and mostly referred to as Fez. Nearly all men wear babouches soft leather slippers with no heel, commonly in yellowbut also in many colours. Many women do as well but others wear high-heeled sandals, often in silver or gold tinsel.
The distinction is the djellabas has a hood, while a Gandora does not. The women’s djellabas are mostly of bright colors with ornate patterns, stitching, or beading, while men wear djellabas in plainer, neutral colors. Women are strongly attached to their “Moroccan wardrobe”, despite the financial costs involved. The production of such garments is relatively expensive, as most of the work is done by hand. Despite the costs involved most women purchase a minimum of one new kaftan or “tk’chita” every year, normally for a special, social event, such as a religious festival or a wedding. Nowadays, it is an unwritten rule that Moroccan dress is worn at such events.
The Gandora is very simular to the Djellaba the differance being the Djellaba has a hood and short sleeves. Masculine embroidery on the front around the neck and arms openings. For a convenient use, this garment has one slit on side and one pocket on the other side at the waist level.This gandora is made with cotton and is more suitable for summer use.
The origins of the fez, or “tarboosh” in Morocco, is not clear. The design may have come from ancient Greece or the Balkans. In the 19th Century it gained wide acceptance when the Ottoman rulers moved to modernize traditional costumes. The brimless hat did not get in the way of a Muslim’s daily prayers and was cleaner and less cumbersome than the turban. The name fez is believed to come from Fez, the city, which once produced the hat’s red dye, made from crimson berries.For more info on Moroccan dress visit Shop Morocco
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