Saudi Founding Day: Discover Unique Characteristics of Traditional Attire
Saudi Arabia’s traditional attire had several distinctive characteristics that set Saudis apart from the rest of the world.
Over the years, the age-old designs of traditional clothing have changed to align with the preferences of Saudi people in contemporary society.
Each region of the Kingdom boasts its own unique traditional clothing.
Diriyah
For example, in the Diriyah region, bisht Al-Barqa and Al-Moassamah were two of the most widely worn outfits.
As one of the most prominent traditional men’s costumes in Diriyah, bisht Al-Barqa is a hand-woven garment made of goat’s wool that is open from the front. Its sleeves seem to be long and wide, either in black or brown and separated by a thin white line.
Saudis has worn this style during the time of the First Saudi State.
Crucially, Saudi royal family rulers, princes and their sons have worn it and continue to do so till now.
“Bisht Al-Barqa is one of the types of bishts, or cloaks, and it was used by men in the region. The people of the central region, Al-Aridh and Diriyah used to call the abaya a bisht, whether a man or a woman wore it,” Laila Al-Bassam, a heritage and traditional Arab costumes and textiles expert, told Arab News.
The Central Region
As for the central region, people had a specific traditional dress free from outside influences, according to Al-Bassam.
“It did not have any outside influence. (Just) look at the outside influence in the coastal areas, the areas where pilgrims, and many came from abroad. But, still, in the central region, the Diriyah region and Al-Aridh region, the clothes were localized,” she added.
Al-Moassamah
Both the abaya or bisht for women and men have the same primary lines. However, the women’s bisht has embroidery on the shoulders, called “Al-Moassamah.”
The Al-Moassamah abaya is made of sheep’s wool and adorned with zari (buttons) and ama’iI (braids).
This kind of abaya surrounds the head and shoulders, hanging from the front two sides.
Moreover, each side is made of circles and ends with button threads without braids (kshakeesh).
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