Tradional costumes in Kuwait for Kuwaiti men, women and children
Old Photographs of Kuwait
The difference between the past and the present becomes apparent in costumes and garments the Kuwaitis wear today. Arab garments changed to suit the current cultural and environmental conditions. Nowadays, men and women alike wear western design clothes. These clothes are no longer restricted to the foreigners working in Kuwait.
However, Kuwaitis are aware of the importance of preserving their national customs as a symbol of national identity. Hence, men prefer to wear Kuwait traditional clothes which are more comfortable than western clothes. It is, also, noticed that Kuwaiti women chose to wear Western clothes more where they enjoy a large different collection of women costumes. However, Kuwaiti women maintained their traditional costumes by wearing long dresses, veils and cloaks.
This variation reflects the personal taste and the styles of the day, along with traditions. Usually, Kuwaiti woman wears western clothes when she goes to work. When she returns home, visits her neighbors and relatives, she wears traditional clothes. Some women wear the traditional dress when they grow old.(Entire article reposted from the Kuwait Government)
The Literary Club
Traditional Costumes for Kuwaiti Men
• Trousers: Long white cotton cloth that is cut and shaped into trousers. It falls straight to the ankle.
• Deshdasha: A wide white cotton robe. It has a narrow central front opening and long sleeves.
• Maqtaa: A deshdasha made of wool.
• Shalahat: A floor-length white cotton robe. It has a narrow central front opening to the chest and long sleeves that fall gracefully to the wrist.
• Zeboun: A long robe made of silk embroidered with gold thread. It has a narrow central front opening and long sleeves. It is opened so that the front parts are wrapped around the body.
• Besht: A cloak made of wool or soft spun fluff. Its color is generally black, but may also be cream, gray or brown. Each type has a different thickness according to its use.
• Farwa: A wool coat padded with sheep wool. Its hems are embroidered with ribbons of the same color or contrasting color with different geometrical decorations.
• Qahfiya: A closefitting cotton cap.
• Ghutra: A headdress made of a piece of cotton cloth worn only after being folded in a triangular shape. When it is made of a red and white-checkered cloth, it is called “shemagh”, and when made of white cashmere wool with edges embroidered with flowers, it is called "shawl".
• Iqal: A double circlet of twisted black, brown or white cords separated from each other by colored wool or gold cords.
• Vest: A sleeveless jacket worn over a deshdasha.
• Barcot or Warcot: A wool coat worn over a maqtaa.
• Qat: A wool suit that consists of a deshdasha, vest and coat with long sleeves. All are made from the same piece of cloth.
• Broadcloth Coat: A broadcloth suit embroidered with gold thread. It is worn over shalahat or shalah.
Traditional Costumes for Kuwaiti Men
• Trousers: Long white cotton cloth that is cut and shaped into trousers. It falls straight to the ankle.
• Deshdasha: A wide white cotton robe. It has a narrow central front opening and long sleeves.
• Maqtaa: A deshdasha made of wool.
• Shalahat: A floor-length white cotton robe. It has a narrow central front opening to the chest and long sleeves that fall gracefully to the wrist.
• Zeboun: A long robe made of silk embroidered with gold thread. It has a narrow central front opening and long sleeves. It is opened so that the front parts are wrapped around the body.
• Besht: A cloak made of wool or soft spun fluff. Its color is generally black, but may also be cream, gray or brown. Each type has a different thickness according to its use.
• Farwa: A wool coat padded with sheep wool. Its hems are embroidered with ribbons of the same color or contrasting color with different geometrical decorations.
• Qahfiya: A closefitting cotton cap.
• Ghutra: A headdress made of a piece of cotton cloth worn only after being folded in a triangular shape. When it is made of a red and white-checkered cloth, it is called “shemagh”, and when made of white cashmere wool with edges embroidered with flowers, it is called "shawl".
• Iqal: A double circlet of twisted black, brown or white cords separated from each other by colored wool or gold cords.
• Vest: A sleeveless jacket worn over a deshdasha.
• Barcot or Warcot: A wool coat worn over a maqtaa.
• Qat: A wool suit that consists of a deshdasha, vest and coat with long sleeves. All are made from the same piece of cloth.
• Broadcloth Coat: A broadcloth suit embroidered with gold thread. It is worn over shalahat or shalah.
Old Photographs of Kuwait
Traditional Costumes for Kuwaiti Women
• Trousers: Long piece of underwear that is cut and shaped to fall straight to the ankle. It is embellished with ribbons embroidered with gold thread. It is made of cotton or silk in bright colors such as green, red and blue.
• Darraa: A long robe with long sleeves made of cotton or Indian silk embroidered with gold thread.
• Zeboun: A long fine robe made of silk embroidered with gold thread. It has a narrow central front opening and long sleeves. It opened so that the front parts are wrapped around the body. Wealthy women usually wear it.
• Thoub: A wide robe with long sleeves and oval wide centeral front opening. Names of the thoub differ according to its color, thickness and embroidered decorations, such as: jazz, amfah, thuraiya, mukhawas, manthour, and tour.
• Malfaa: A scarf that is tied tightly around the head and face and tucked in at the back to conceal the hair.
• Shila: A black headdress worn by the Bedouins.
• Burqu: A short rectangular black face veil that covers from the forehead to the end of the neck. The Bedouin wears it over a shila and never takes it off, so as to wander freely among the tents.
• Bushiya: A face veil that covers the face completely. It is worn by city women.
• Abaa: A silk or wool black cloak that envelops the body from top to toe.
Traditional Costumes for Kuwaiti Women
• Trousers: Long piece of underwear that is cut and shaped to fall straight to the ankle. It is embellished with ribbons embroidered with gold thread. It is made of cotton or silk in bright colors such as green, red and blue.
• Darraa: A long robe with long sleeves made of cotton or Indian silk embroidered with gold thread.
• Zeboun: A long fine robe made of silk embroidered with gold thread. It has a narrow central front opening and long sleeves. It opened so that the front parts are wrapped around the body. Wealthy women usually wear it.
• Thoub: A wide robe with long sleeves and oval wide centeral front opening. Names of the thoub differ according to its color, thickness and embroidered decorations, such as: jazz, amfah, thuraiya, mukhawas, manthour, and tour.
• Malfaa: A scarf that is tied tightly around the head and face and tucked in at the back to conceal the hair.
• Shila: A black headdress worn by the Bedouins.
• Burqu: A short rectangular black face veil that covers from the forehead to the end of the neck. The Bedouin wears it over a shila and never takes it off, so as to wander freely among the tents.
• Bushiya: A face veil that covers the face completely. It is worn by city women.
• Abaa: A silk or wool black cloak that envelops the body from top to toe.
Photo credit
Traditional Costumes for Kuwaiti Children
• Bakhnaq: A black headdress worn by little girls. It is embroidered around the head and in the front.
• Kahfiya: A cap made of black cloth. It is embroidered with colored silk thread, gold thread and blue stones.
Traditional Costumes for Kuwaiti Children
• Bakhnaq: A black headdress worn by little girls. It is embroidered around the head and in the front.
• Kahfiya: A cap made of black cloth. It is embroidered with colored silk thread, gold thread and blue stones.
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