The qashabiya () is a traditional

Arab Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...

winter garment originating from

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

. It features a hood and differs from the

burnous A burnous (), also burnoose, burnouse, bournous or barnous, is a long cloak of coarse woollen fabric with a pointed hood, often white, traditionally worn by Arabs, Arab and Berbers, Berber men in North Africa. Historically, the white burnous was w ...

by the presence of sleeves and a closure. Thicker and wider than the Djellaba (), it is made of camel wool. It allows its wearer to brave the wind and precipitation of winter. It also holds significant importance in the Algerian

collective memory Collective memory is the shared pool of memories, knowledge and information of a social group that is significantly associated with the group's identity. The English phrase "collective memory" and the equivalent French phrase "la mémoire collect ...

, as it, along with the burnous, represents the attire of the shuhada during the Algerian War of National Liberation. It also has the reputation of being Algeria's national attire.

Etymology

According to Georges Séraphin Colin, the term "''qeššabiya''" used in central and eastern Algeria is a deformation of the Latin ''gausapa'', a term that would have been preserved in the form of ''gosaba'' in the Adrar, where it refers to a shirt. Arabic dictionaries list several definitions and etymologies for the term qashabiya, although they all agree in designating a garment but differ in its characteristics.

Origin

The Qashabiya, a characteristic garment symbol of the High Plateaus of

, is mainly crafted in the heart of Djelfa and its surroundings. It can also be found in the eastern regions of

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

, the

Aurès Aurès () is a natural region located in the mountainous area of the Aurès Mountains, Aurès range, in eastern Algeria. The region includes the provinces of Algeria, Algerian provinces of Batna Province, Batna, Tebessa Province, Tebessa, Consta ...

Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...

, and even as far as

Tripolitania Tripolitania (), historically known as the Tripoli region, is a historic region and former province of Libya. The region had been settled since antiquity, first coming to prominence as part of the Carthaginian empire. Following the defeat ...

. The qashabiya is associated with the

mujahideen ''Mujahideen'', or ''Mujahidin'' (), is the plural form of ''mujahid'' (), an Arabic term that broadly refers to people who engage in ''jihad'' (), interpreted in a jurisprudence of Islam as the fight on behalf of God, religion or the commun ...

who fought during the

Algerian War of Independence The Algerian War (also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence) ''; '' (and sometimes in Algeria as the ''War of 1 November'') was an armed conflict between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front (Algeri ...

. The qashabiya was crucial in helping Algerian guerrillas withstand the harsh cold in the mountains while also allowing them to blend into their surroundings for camouflage. Nowadays the region of the Ouled Nail is renowned for crafting and wearing the qashabiya.

Fabrication

The Qashabiya is still made by tailors in Sétif, particularly in the district of "At Tarazoun" (الطرازون) street. This traditional industry is however threatened by lack of transmission to the youngest. In the Djelfa region, a camel wool fabric called Ouabri is made. This fabric is used in the making of a wide range of Qashabiya and Burnous Ouabri. These two garments are in high demand today, particularly the Qashabiya Ouabri. In addition, the fabric of the fabric adapts well to other garments, particularly modern outfits.

References

* * {{Authority control Algerian clothing Dresses

Etymology

Origin

Fabrication

See also

References