In the eyes of any tourist, one of the most striking aspects of the local culture is the traditional Moroccan clothing: it is obvious, as many people still wear the typical dress of the country on special occasions and even in everyday life. Therefore, in this post we make a quick review of those iconic garments that you can see or even buy during your trip to Morocco.
City versus rural world
When it comes to fashion, you will find big differences between the city and the rural world. In big cities it is common to see people, especially young people, wearing Western-style clothing, with clothes and clothing brands that can also be found in any other part of the world.
However, it is not uncommon to see people wearing traditional clothing in Morocco, especially in religious or festive contexts. These garments, which are common in the city, are described in the following section, but we anticipate that they tend to have a more refined and elegant character, with soft fabrics and careful embroidery.
On the other hand, in the rural world, clothing tends to be more humble and is even more present in everyday life. These garments are linked to the Berber culture, which often resort to a great explosion of color. In mountainous environments, these clothing items are usually thick, in traditional, warm fabrics such as sheep’s wool. In desert areas, the opposite is the case: light, full body-covering garments are preferred. And at gala moments, they often resort to beads and accessories humble but with striking elements, such as sequins.
Traditional Moroccan clothing, according to gender
Undoubtedly, in Morocco there are a number of iconic garments that you should know to recognize. Some are for women and others for men. As far as women are concerned, there are two great outfits, which are symbols of elegance:
- Caftan or kaftan: it is a long dress, both in the skirt and sleeve, and draws attention for its powerful shine, as it is often made of silk. Its cut is wide and as for the design, there are printed (the most humble) or with contrasting embroidery throughout the garment. In some cases, they are handmade products, made by artisan tailors and artisan tailors who keep this tradition alive
- Takchita: it resembles the kaftan in its glitter and embroidery, but differs in that it is composed of two pieces. On the one hand, the underdress itself is called tahtiya, which usually has a more sober design. And on the other hand, the fouqia or dfina, which is a richer overdress, with a wider cut and a particularly long skirt. In fact, the skirt can drag on the floor, which denotes a plus of elegance and, often, a higher social level.
For their part, men also wear traditional clothing in Morocco. And without a doubt, the most popular garment is the djellaba. It is a long dress that reminds us of a woman’s caftan, but with the difference of having a hood and being even looser. In addition, it is often worn as an overgarment over the usual clothing, on the street or in public places, and then removed upon arrival at the destination. In addition, their material tends to have a more everyday, dull character: cotton for warm environments and wool in cold environments.
As you can see, traditional clothing in Morocco has some iconic garments, often combined with beautiful accessories such as hats or typical footwear, which also deserve our attention in this blog.
