A baati, or, more formally, a ''Dirac shiid'', is a traditional Somali cotton
house dress
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condit ...
with a loose fit and short sleeves. It is popular throughout
East Africa
East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...
due to Somali migration and trading across the region. It is seen as a staple in many East African households. The garment is noted for its versatility; it can be used as swimwear or as a sling to carry an infant. It is one variant of the traditional Somali wear called
Dirac
Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac ( ; 8 August 1902 – 20 October 1984) was an English mathematician and theoretical physicist who is considered to be one of the founders of quantum mechanics. Dirac laid the foundations for both quantum electrodyna ...
.
In 2018,
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stree ...
contestant Muna Juma accused
fast fashion
Fast fashion is the business model of replicating recent catwalk trends and High fashion, high-fashion designs, mass production, mass-producing them at a low cost, and bringing them to retail quickly while demand is at its highest. The term ''fast ...
brand
Zara
Zara may refer to:
Businesses
* Zara (retailer), a fashion retail company based in Spain
* Zara Investment Holding, a Jordanian holding company
* Continental Hotel Zara, Budapest, Hungary
People and fictional characters
* Zara (name), primari ...
of
cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture or cultural identity, identity by members of another culture or identity in a manner perceived as inappropriate or unacknowledged. Such a controversy typically ari ...
because they advertised a dress closely resembling a baati.
See also
*
Dirac
Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac ( ; 8 August 1902 – 20 October 1984) was an English mathematician and theoretical physicist who is considered to be one of the founders of quantum mechanics. Dirac laid the foundations for both quantum electrodyna ...
, a more formal Somali dress
*
Caftan
A kaftan or caftan (; , ; , ; ) is a variant of the robe or tunic. Originating in Asia, it has been worn by a number of cultures around the world for thousands of years. In Russian usage, ''kaftan'' instead refers to a style of men's long suit ...
References
African clothing
Culture of Somalia
Somali inventions
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