FACT HERITAGE
Traditional Dress Bedouin Men
Bedouin women
The traditional basic dress for Bedouin men is a thobe, now commonly known as Kandura or Dishdash. Made of white cotton to the ankle, with long sleeves, and a collar that varies by region but usually included a button or tassel, or both.
Bedouin Outerwear Over the tob a striped kibr open down front with belt and/or shoulder straps is worn. For nonmanual workers a redan is worn, reinforcing their leisure status. Beduoin men would frequently carry knives, rifles and ammunition.
Bisht Arabs usually wore a Bisht over their robe in order to add glamour to special occasions. Bisht is a loose floor length or sometimes a little shorter coat, with embroidered edges. It signifies religious position, social status or wealth.
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The basic dress for Bedouin women was an over-sized Abaya. This loose-fitted cloak-dress came in different colours, with embroidery along the seams, the hem, and the neck. Brightly coloured and patterned dresses (fustan) were worn underneath.
Bedouin Headwear Headwear for most Bedouin men is a keffiyah, more commonly known as a Guthra, and held in place with an egal of camel wool. Some men wore the Amamah, a tightly wrapped turban that represented religious seniority.
Bedouin Jewellery Women wear a range of jewellery including, necklaces, rings, anklets and bracelets, often hollow and filled with stones.
Gafaaz Gafaaz is a literal translation of gloves. Women wear Gafaaz to ensure that their hand is completely covered. Gafaaz was predominant in olden days; very few conventional women still wear it.
Bedouin Burqa The Bedouin Burqa varies from place to place with Bedouin women. In the north the veils came in a range of masks, whilst in the Levant they are dark blue or black using a shambar, a tube that encloses the head and neck. In the Sinai desert the burqas are formed by rows of coins!