Opposite: The Hijaz white burqu (mask) is made of fine gauze, embroidered at the front. Below: From the rugged Taif region, the Hudheyl tribe costume is made of tie-dye muslin applied in different patterns.
The Mansoojat Foundation has collected 300 or so tribal costumes which confound the monochromatic stereotype of Saudi Arabian clothing. Some are a century old, others are more recent, but all are made with traditional cloth and embroidery – and they dazzle with every colour of the rainbow. ‘I was shocked,’ says Mona Khashoggi, who helped to reveal this forgotten treasure trove of tradition. ‘I had no idea we had all this.’ By John Andrews. PHOTOGRAPHER: RICHARD WILDING
March/April 2008 ALEF MAGAZINE 123
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