Although the Orient has always been a source of inspiration in the collective imagination, it remains that behind this general label lies a multitude of different civilizations. From the Maghreb to Afghanistan, traditional clothing carries the heritage of a common culture: that of Islam and its codes of modesty. Muda Paris offers an overview of the diversity that can be found in oriental outfits for men.
Maghreb outfits
Although geographically the Maghreb is not part of the Middle East, it is undeniable that a common culture is drawn from it. In gastronomy, craftsmanship, dialects, etc., it is impossible not to make connections between these cultures. There are different outfits for men, each with their own specificities. They will be adapted to specific climates or particular events. Among them, we can count:
- Gandouras;
- Djellabas;
- Jabadors;
- Caftans;
- Burnous, etc.
Do these words evoke something for you? Here is a panel of men’s outfits, here from Morocco!
Colors, embroideries or cuts may evolve depending on trends. However, the marks of Moroccan craftsmanship can be found in each piece.
➡️ Also read: What Moroccan outfit for men to choose depending on the season?
Oriental outfits for men from the Arabian Peninsula
The growth of the United Arab Emirates in the last ten years has been such that its clothing style has also been exported. The very similar style of Emirati and Saudi clothing is very easy to identify.
Emiratis almost never wear Western clothes to go out on the street.
If in France we commonly talk about the qamis, the terms used in the Arabian Peninsula are not the same. Indeed, men wear the dishdash, also called gandoura or tawb, with a keffieh on their head, held in place by an agal (the black circle that holds the scarf in place).
Traditionally, each Bedouin tribe had its own keffieh pattern, as well as its own colors.
Other regions also export their traditional outfits
Due to the diaspora, it is not uncommon to also come across men wearing outfits from more distant horizons in Europe: Pakistan, Iraq, Iran…
We will see Pakistani costumes here. They generally consist of two pieces, among which are:
- Kurta: a collarless shirt that reaches mid-thigh or to the knees.
- Pajama: this term means “pants” in Urdu. It therefore accompanies the kurta.
- Churidar: it also corresponds to pants, but longer than the pajama.
- Shalwar: loose-fitting pants on the top and tapered at the bottom.
- Kameez: a tunic that reaches the knees and has a collar and sleeves. For special occasions, it can display embroideries and ornaments.
Linguistically, we can also notice a similarity between the words kameez and qamis, evidence of a cultural heritage, as is the gandoura. Also, Iraqi men wear a dishdash, just like Emiratis, even though it is different. The keffieh is also present in the vocabulary of many countries, tribes, etc.
You now know a little more about oriental outfits for men. A common cultural heritage is noted, not only related to climatic conditions, but also to an element: Islam. Indeed, these countries are imbued with the Muslim religion and its precepts related to modesty. Usually attributed to women, criteria for clothing also affect men. They are thus concerned with wearing loose and long clothes, both of which are criteria that can be found in all the outfits displayed in this article.If you like these outfits, it’s time to take a look at our online store!
0 Comments