History of the kaftan

History of the kaftan 


Persian origin, the caftan (pronounced "Caftane") is a long tunic and wide, without a collar, long sleeves, composed of several strips, which give greater or lesser extent. It is worn both by men than by women. Completely open at the front, it is topped with a cord of braided silk (sfifa), closed with a row of buttons (âakad) and its flanges (Aayoun). This caftan is called ain or ouqda ("eye" or "buttons"). Its silk embroidery is gold or silver, precious stones or trimmings. They adorn the breastplate, shoulders and cuffs.

The first written mention the Moroccan caftan dating from the sixteenth century. Already worn by the Parthians and Persians, the caftan was introduced into the Muslim East under the Abbasids. The Emir Abd al-Rahman II (822-852) - small son of Abd al-Rahman I, who won Andalusia, where he formed an independent emirate in the ninth century - loving culture, the artist received Zyriab, come Baghdad. This was the Andalusians discover the refinement of the Muslim East and the musical modes, culinary arts and clothing. He showed them what to wear according to the seasons: white and light summer fabrics, clothing lined and dark winter.



 At the beginning of the twelfth century Andalusia - governed by the Berber dynasties - says artistic sensibility clean, new tastes and new aspirations that allow his art and his craft shine throughout the Mediterranean. Its influence is continuously in Moroccan cities called hadaria ("urban"): Fes, Rabat, Salé and Tetouan. In 1492, the Christian reconquest ended with the conquest of Granada, the last Muslim kingdom remained in the hands of the Nasrid sultans (1238-1492). Despite their promises, the Catholic Kings ordered the expulsion of Muslims and Jews. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, waves of exiles arrived and Morocco. They will know the northern cities of the latest techniques of silk weaving and conclude propagate their fashions.

Presentation of the caftan:

Presentation of the caftan:
Caftan (alqaftane in Morocco) is part of the heritage dress in Morocco.

It is the centerpiece of the wardrobe of Moroccan women. It can be worn by both the male and female.


It is a long loose garment, straight, long sleeves or mid-length, collarless or hooded, open the full length in the middle and often richly embroidered.


This costume is inspired draped Gallo-Roman and has undergone several transformations over time, each people gave it a personal touch at: cut, color, embroidery ... (caftan Persian, Mongolian, Slavic, Andalusian ...)


Originally, only the sultans and their wives had the privilege of wearing this dress expensive (due to many months of work and a large area of ​​tissue necessary for the design).


The use of caftans was spread by trade caravans traveling the Muslim world and Mecca, a city of trade between Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe.


Andalusians are installed in Morocco between the XII and XVI century caftan strengthen port in the country.


In the nineteenth century, the caftan tracks changes in the mode: cut in velvet, silk, brocade, it is richly embroidered with the son of gold, silver or silk.


For some years this garment has evolved, it is no longer made to hide the body. It seeks to enhance femininity, it combines tradition and modernism necklines, overlays, transparencies, fluid materials ... are part of this magnificent garment. Fine embroidery, worked inspired by Moroccan tradition.


The caftan inspired the creativity of artists and designers of haute couture (Salima Abdel Wahab, Yves Saint Laurent, ...). Thus the caftan is now exported worldwide.

Morocco: MRE organize a relief effort for the village of Angfou

Morocco: MRE organize a relief effort for the village of Angfou


Every year it's the same scenario. The inhabitants of remote villages of the Atlas Mountains face a cold winter. Winter especially hard to bear especially for babies and younger children. To help people overcome the cold, hundreds of volunteers are active in Moroccan time to collect the most money possible, food, clothing and blankets to be distributed to villagers in ten days.

12 and 13 January is scheduled for a humanitarian operation to distribute food parcels, clothing and blankets to the villagers landlocked Angfou perched at 1600 meters altitude in the Atlas. Hundreds of volunteers in Morocco and around the world are mobilized and are busy at the moment to raise the most money possible. An operation a few days after the death of a baby in the village of Angfou. While the parents claimed that their baby had died after catching cold, the Ministry of the Interior contradicted him on his side, the reason for his death. He argued that "it was a natural death following a short illness." According to activists, human rights there, four other babies were also frozen to death. Information also belied by the Ministry of the Interior.
MRE around the world mobilized
This is Allae Hammioui, a Moroccan resident abroad who is behind this initiative. "It all started last year when I read an article about the death of a baby in the village of Angfou, a death that was denied by the Ministry of the Interior. "Says he Yabiladi. "It hit me and I said that it is still unacceptable to see people die of cold in Morocco in 2012. So without thinking, I decided to start this event. , "He says.
After creating a simple page on Facebook to raise awareness and plan to launch an operation in support of the people of the village, quickly took initiative. The page has circulated on the net and people quickly expressed their desire to participate in this operation. In less than 24 hours, Moroccans from all over the world, from Japan to Canada from Europe have contacted Allae to say they wanted to participate in the operation. Some of these MRE did not hesitate to send the money was used to purchase food. Other Moroccans rallied in their host countries to collect food and clothing they sent in containers or by bus in Morocco.
10 tons of food collected
The kingdom, dozens of volunteers are scrambling to collect their side the most money possible. "We also have a Moroccan who wished to remain anonymous and will put at our disposal a truck carrying 40 tons to transport packages and gifts to the village Angfou" says Allae. Nearly 10 tons of food, such as pulses, sugar, flour or oil were collected and nearly 3 tons of clothes. All of this merchandise is currently stored in the garage of the house Selwa Zine in Rabat, the project manager of Morocco. It is the latter that has managed to get authorization from the prefecture Midelt to deliver these gifts to the people of the village. However, to prevent neighboring villages Angfou feel frustrated not to receive the volunteer team also plans to visit neighboring villages to distribute a portion of these donations.
"I do not do politics! '
In a previous article Yabiladi an Amazigh activist explained that it was not charity needed by the people of these villages but the government launches the faster an emergency plan to create infrastructure to open up the villages. "I do not go into politics! "Says Allae Hammioui. "As a Moroccan citizen, I am concerned that my fellow citizens live in these villages. I do what I can within my means. And if everyone does a little, we can change things, "he adds. "Shouting day and complain that the government does nothing and go to sleep at night in a warm bed, will not improve things. You know, I live for a year and a half in Paris and I see people sleeping on the subway or under bridges while France is one of the richest countries in the world. By helping these people when I say my Moroccan citizenship and I do not stop at what the government should do! "He concludes. For its part, the Ministry of Health organized a medical caravan from 3 January to remote villages of the Atlas which will benefit more than 2,000 people.