Clothing in Afghanistan

By: Brooke Lynch

Material

Cotton and wool are the two main materials that are used in making afghan clothing.

wool cottonhttp://www.afghanistan-culture.com/afghanistan-clothing.html

Women’s Clothing

There are four main types of clothing that women in Afghanistan wear.

-Tomban (pants)- Parahaan (overdress)- Chador (head covering)-Payzaar ( footwear)

http://www.bookrags.com/research/clothing-traditionalafghanistan-ema-02/

Women's tomban (pants) are made of approximately two yards of cotton, silk like rayon or acetate fabric. They are usually plain white, with drawstring pants which cover the whole leg. Sometimes the cuff of the pants is decorated with machine or hand-embroidered patterns. The parahan (overdress) is typically made from five yards of cotton, or silk , and plain or satin woven fabrics in bright colors (for young women) and darker colors (for older women), usually one tone or with floral patterns.

http://www.afghanistan-culture.com/afghanistan-clothing.html

How it’s made

How it’s made continued

Neck lines are not all the same but usually are rounded. Occasionally pointed collars are added, as are gathered set-in sleeves with buttoned or fitted cuffs. Dress skirts are gathered at the waist and worn mid-calf length. Chadars are made of similar fabrics, usually rectangular pieces of lightweight cotton or silk. Woven with machine or hand-embroidered edges.

http://www.rawa.org/rules.htm

Tomban (Pants) Parahaan (Overdress)

Chador (Head dress)

Payzaar (Footwear)

The entire ensemble is known as kalaa

Shoes

Women were only allowed to wear black shoes, never white. Wearing white shoes was forbidden because the Taliban flag was white and they were saying that by wearing white shoes, they step on the flag.

http://www.afghanistan-culture.com/afghanistan-clothing.html

Clothing for inside the home

Women’s clothing for inside the house are usually a long knee length dress with a white, black or matching trouser which is mostly made of cotton and worn in summer.

http://www.afghanistan-culture.com/afghanistan-clothing.html

Men’s Clothing

- Tomban (Pants)-Payran (Over shirt)-Pakol (Hat or Cap)-Turban (Head dress)-Waskat (Vest)

http://www.bookrags.com/research/clothing-traditionalafghanistan-ema-02/

Tomban (Pants) Payran (Overshirt) Waskat (Vest)

Turban (Head Wrap)

How it’s made for the men.

Men's tomban and payran feature fewer decorative details and are typically natural colored cotton fabric. Kulla show the most variety in shapes, colors, and embroidered patterns.

http://www.bookrags.com/research/clothing-traditionalafghanistan-ema-02/

Information

Since the 1920s, Afghanistan's leaders have tried to keep control of human and natural resources, they have struggled with women's rights and independence shown in the way of dress. Afghan dress also reflects other aspects of identity in a variety of inseparable yet interrelated ways: gendered and generational status, religious affiliation, rural and urban differences

http://www.afghanistan-culture.com/afghanistan-clothing.html

Difference’s

Dress also differentiates the age and generational status of the wearer. Though all females wear pants, overdress, and head and foot coverings, aesthetic characteristics vary according to age throughout women's lives.

http://www.bookrags.com/research/clothing-traditionalafghanistan-ema-02/

How it looks

More costly materials and surface design embellishments are added to women's clothing. The decorative focus is on the cuffs of pants, dress’s, and head coverings as females age and gain more status when they become engaged, marry or become mothers. These differences are harder to notice in how men dress. Shirt sleeves, the front of shirts, and hats are embroidered

in regional and ethnic patterns by either their betrothed or wife.

http://www.bookrags.com/research/clothing-traditionalafghanistan-ema-02/

Embroidery

Afghan dress is also notable for its embroidery. Embroidery styles tend to be associated with geographic regions and ethnic groups. a variety of embroidery techniques and the complexity of their execution; the floral and geometric motifs; and the design placement of the embroidery.

http://www.afghanistan-culture.com/afghanistan-clothing.html

Embroidery Continued

Three embroidery styles are gold stitched embroidery known for the unique kind of metallic thread and braid used, tashamaar dozi, recognizable by the intricate counted stitch technique; and silk stitched flower embroidery, distinctive because of the rich use of colored threads.

http://www.afghanistan-culture.com/afghanistan-clothing.html

Rules in Afghanistan about clothing

-Requirement that women wear a long veil (Burqa), which covers them from head to toe-Ban on women's wearing brightly colored clothes. In Taliban terms, these are "sexually attracting colors."- Ban on women washing clothes next to rivers or in a public place.-Ban on male tailors taking women's measurements or sewing women's clothes.

http://www.rawa.org/rules.htm

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