Omani clothing, simplicity and majesty!

The richness of Omani clothing is linked to its geographical location and its interaction with other peoples in the region.

Omani clothing has historical and cultural characteristics derived from the country’s ancient history, its geographical location and its interaction with other peoples in the region, which is why it gives the dresses an incomparable richness in colors and shapes.

Men’s clothing, simplicity and elegance.

Men’s clothing is characterized by its simplicity and its adaptation to the environment. The main garment is a tunic called dishdasha, it has an embroidered circular collar, as well as the edges of the sleeves, which are also embroidered with the same color as the collar. The dishdasha is accompanied by a kummah, or Omani cap. It is very rare to find in the Sultanate of Oman a man in traditional Omani clothing who does not go with the kummah or masr. Although some Omanis never wear kummah, Bedouins are very proud and prefer to wear turbans. An interesting anecdote from my friend Khalid is that during his childhood he did not like to wear it and preferred to wear masr, the kummah he used only for school, because it is the law. Some children wore the masr (turban) around their waist so that when they left school they would put it on immediately so they would not have to wear the kummah.

The masr is a turban that can go either on top of the kummah or without it. An important garment, and its price can vary between six Omani reals and approximately forty-six Omani rials (sixteen dollars and one hundred and twenty dollars respectively).

Despite the diversity of styles in different regions, the kummah is used by almost all Omanis, regardless of age or preference. Young people pay a lot of attention when choosing the kummah in terms of color, design, and often the folds. An Omani hat can take several months of work if it is made by hand, depending on the complexity and precision of the embroidery. The drawings are usually inspired by nature.

Kuma preparation

The use of the masr or turban also depends on the occasion and region. On formal occasions the masr is the equivalent of a tie in the Western world. It also helps protect from weather elements such as sun, wind and to provide warmth when the weather is mild or cold.

Some Bedouins wear a black cord (iqal or ghitra), on top of their turban, it is used to tie the camel’s legs so that it cannot run. The turban, in addition to protecting as I mentioned above, also has another use and has an interesting meaning, as an Omani friend told me: “The Sultan and the judges have larger turbans than usual, because it means that after death they will be buried in that cloth they use as a turban”

Sultan Qaboos

“The Muslim funeral rite begins immediately after death, the body is washed and covered with cloth by family members. The meaning highlights the importance of being fair to everyone, since they too will die one day and God is watching ” Hani commented.

The average number of dishdashas that Omani men own would be between twelve and twenty, with new ones being added each year for the celebration of Eid. There are dishdashas of all colors, the most used being white, which is preferred for formal occasions such as weddings and funerals, and is mandatory for ministry employees, as is the use of the masr. There are also them in pastel colors, but not in very striking colors, since they are considered colors for women. Below the disdasha they wear fanila, which is a thin sleeveless shirt, and the wizar, which is like a cloth that they roll up and is the equivalent of underwear.

Inside the house they wear a very informal tunic, similar to pajamas, called jalabia. The material is softer and it has a pocket at the top, to put glasses or something small. You will very rarely see someone on the street wearing jalabia, it is not considered in good taste.

Bishet

It is a translucent robe that is worn above the dishdasha, it is used according to the occasion, or according to status. For example, members of the royal family or sheiks (an Arab leader, particularly the chief or head of a tribe, family or region) very often wear this tunic.

All men can wear it, it is for very formal or special occasions such as their graduation or wedding, mostly black is used, although brown is also very common, however, people who have high purchasing power or who use them Very frequently, they also have other colors. In Oman you can find a variety of colors, such as blue, green, beige and light colors, they are quite common compared to those used in other Gulf countries, and the gold embroidery of the bishet of the Omanis tends to have more elaborate designs compared to to other Gulf countries.

Feminine clothing, majesty and sobriety

Although each region of the Sultanate has its own style of dress, they all share one common element: the dresses are inspired by the cultural legacy of the region and express the natural and social environment.

Between tradition and modernity

Currently, Omani women have introduced modifications in clothing, in line with current times and international fashion trends, although what changes is only the fabric, embroidery and sequins.

The image that everyone has about the Middle East and mainly the Gulf area is that an abaya is very essential and women have to wear it. It is important to clarify that the abaya is not typical of Oman, and is more of a trend, a fashion that apparently comes from women in Saudi Arabia and Iran, like everything that seems new and fashionable, women began to import abayas.

The abaya is not originally part of Omani culture, but has become part of it due to its frequent use in recent years. Some women prefer them for religious reasons, although their use is not linked to religion, but because they are more conservative they prefer to use them. In some regions it is common for most women to always wear it, others wear it due to family tradition, and mostly because it is the current trend. Every season there are new designs, the main goal is to look elegant and look good.

Self-made photos


Photo #1- Aid Al Adha Celebration (Celebration of Sacrifice)
Photo #2- Omani Wedding
Photo #3 – Muscat Festival.

So, what is an Abaya in the 21st century?

There is a wide variety of abayas, colors, designs and prices. The color of the abaya depends on many things such as: the preferences of each woman, the color they think goes best with their skin color, their mood, if they are going out during the day or at night, if it is formal or informal. , the climate, and what is worn under the abaya.

The abaya is not mandatory, as a foreigner in Oman I sometimes wear an abaya since I personally find them very comfortable and practical, and although I have a few, I don’t wear them very often, I wear them depending on the occasion, the place, for comfort, or simply to look more formal or elegant. It is a personal choice, just like Omani women.

Also, there are those who do not like to use them and use them rarely, if ever. However, when they wear it, they do it because it is very convenient, you can look very elegant with an abaya no matter what you wear inside. Even if it was your pajamas! The average number of abayas for each woman is at least fifteen.

Clothing varies by province

Dress varies depending on the province. There are many differences between traditional women’s dresses, many of them can take one to two months to complete. In the capital there are two styles: Balushi and Lawati. The Balushi style stands out for the large amount of varied and elaborate embroidery and the use of mirrors that are fixed to the fabric with embroidery. The Lawati style is adorned with different embroidery of silver and gold threads among other elaborate details. Other regions have a great variety in their clothing. Women compete in the art of beautiful embroidery and creativity.

The clothing of rural women in the Sultanate of Oman has a very peculiar style because it differs from the rest of the styles, the predominant color is black, it also has its variations depending on the area. In addition, the rural woman wears a burqa, which is a type of mask that has two holes for the eyes. Their clothing is usually complemented with jewelry, such as necklaces and bracelets, bracelets and earrings, but jewelry is a large topic, which I would love to discuss in more detail in another entry on my blog. Bedouin women in Oman who wear the burqa do so because their ancestors have been doing so for centuries. It is a tradition that dates back to pre-Islamic times. So it’s more of a cultural tradition than a religious one.

How to dress when visiting the Sultanate of Oman?

There are those who think that visiting a Muslim country, they will have to change all their clothes or women are forced to dress a certain way throughout their stay in the country. Nothing is further from reality. What is asked of residents and visitors is to dress modestly or without attracting attention (yes, the opposite of what many of us do). In public places, women are expected not to wear very short pants or skirts, deep necklines, sleeveless clothing, or tight clothing. Men should also not wear shorts or sleeveless shirts. Respect for customs is appreciated and celebrated.

When visiting a mosque, in Oman and all Muslim countries, both men and women are required to dress modestly, with women covering their heads with a veil.

Have you visited any Muslim country?

Would you change your outfit for a few days to get to know a new culture?