Moroccan dress is wonderfully varied, shaped by region, climate and occasion. Two garments in particular, the djellaba and the caftan, are known far beyond the country.
Everyday and regional dress
The djellaba is a long, loose, hooded garment worn by men and women; its pointed hood, the qob, shields against sun and, in cold mountain areas, keeps in warmth. The gandoura is similar but hoodless, while the burnous is a hooded cape among North Africa’s oldest garments, made of sheep’s wool in Berber-speaking regions. Many men and women also wear balgha, soft leather slippers often dyed yellow.
The caftan
The caftan is considered the most prestigious garment in Moroccan culture. It was probably introduced in the 16th century under the Saadian dynasty and was first reserved for sultans and the court. Master artisans called maalems make it from velvet, silk and brocade, with gold buttons, a belt and embroidery or beading. The takchita is a two-piece version in which the under-caftan peeks out below the outer layer.
Craft and the wider world
Jews expelled from Iberia in the 15th century became master gold-thread embroiderers in Morocco, and the page notes Yves Saint Laurent showed the caftan in his fashion shows from the 1970s.
Sources: Wikipedia: Culture of Morocco.
For more style ideas, browse the shop.