Clothing has existed since ancient times when humans realized that it was a necessity of life and protection against weather changes. Over time, art and design began to appear on clothing, expressing the culture, customs, and traditions of different peoples. Saudi attire is a part of the Kingdom’s cultural and civilizational heritage.
The Importance of Traditional Saudi Fashion Between the Past and Present:
The significance of traditional Saudi clothing, both in the past and present, can be summarized as follows:
- Expression of Traditional Heritage: It represents a historical dimension that reflects the lifestyle of ancestors and forefathers.
- Economic, Social, and Cultural Indicator: Traditional clothing indicates the economic, social, and cultural status, explaining why fashion varies across regions.
- Beauty and Simplicity in Design: The designs are characterized by simplicity, evident in the lines, shapes, colors, and types of fabrics used.
- Preservation of Heritage: Wearing traditional attire at various events and public places helps in preserving this heritage from fading away.
- The Most Famous Traditional Clothing for Women and Men in Each Region of the Kingdom
- Each region of Saudi Arabia is distinguished by its own traditional attire. Some regions may share the same styles, but the most famous traditional clothing for women and men in each area is as follows:
The traditional attire for men in the central region consists of an agal, ghutra, and daghla, or an agal, ghutra, almardoon, a dagger, and a thobe. As for women, their clothing included a burqa, sheila, maqtaa, and a belt, or a hamah, bisht, kartah, and a shanta (bag). Regarding children’s clothing in the central region, girls used to wear a bukhnag, while boys’ attire consisted of an agal, ghutra, daghla, a belt, and a thobe.
The Northern Region
The traditional attire for men in the Northern Region typically consists of a ghutra (headscarf), agal (headband), and dagla (a long coat). For women, the common attire includes a shayla (veil) and mihwathil (a traditional dress). As for children, girls would wear the mihwathil, while boys’ clothing consisted of a ghutra, agal, and dagla.
The Southern Region
The traditional attire commonly worn by men in the southern region consisted of the Samada (headwrap), Jubbah (robe), Al-Mahzam (belt), and Khanjar (dagger). As for women and girls, their clothing included the Sheila (headscarf) and Sidra (cloak), while young boys wore the Shablah (long shirt) and Jubbah.
The Eastern Province
The common attire for men in the Eastern Province consisted of the agal, ghutra, and bisht. As for women, their clothing included the shaila and nashel. Children followed similar patterns: girls wore the nashel, while boys wore the agal, ghutra, and bisht.
The Western Region
The common attire for men and boys in the Western Region consisted of the following:
- Agal
- Shemagh
- Sidari
- Thobe
As for women and girls, the common attire consisted of the following:
- The Sheila.
- The Masdoh.
The Role of the Fashion Commission in Preserving Saudi Traditional Fashion:
The Fashion Commission was established in February 2020 and is affiliated with the Ministry of Culture. It operates within the framework of the ministry’s vision and objectives, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.
The Commission’s role in preserving traditional fashion includes the following:
- Establishing regulations for this sector.
- Launching an association dedicated to those interested in Saudi fashion.
- Organizing events that focus on Saudi fashion.
- Collecting important information about Saudi fashion to ensure accessibility for everyone.
- Hosting local and international exhibitions that support the fashion sector in the Kingdom.
Related Topics :
Ramadan Pop-Up Gathers over 160 Saudi Fashion Brands till April 8
Max Fashion Celebrates Ramadan by Modest Outfits
First Dubai Show Cementing Country’s Position as Global Fashion Hub
