Thawb

A thawb, also known as a dishdashah or a kandura in other varieties of Arabic, is a garment traditionally worn by men in the Arab world. It is a long-sleeved, ankle-length robe that has regional variations in name and style. It can be worn in formal or informal settings, depending on the social and cultural norms in question; thawbs are the main formal attire for men in Saudi Arabia. Outside of the Arab world, the garment has been adopted in a number of Muslim-majority areas, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, where it is commonly referred to as a ''jubbah'' and is frequently worn by those who regard it as ''sunnah'' (i.e., something practiced, spoken, or observed by Muhammad, the founding Islamic prophet) due to its modest appearance.

Etymology

The word ''thawb'' () is a Standard Arabic word for "dress" or "garment". It is also romanized as ''thobe'' or ''thaub'' or ''thob.''

Name by locality

Regional variations

The ''thawb'' is commonly worn by men in the Arabian Peninsula. It is normally made with polyester fabric, but heavier materials such as sheep's wool can also be used, especially in colder climates in the Levant. The style of the thawb varies between regions. In Iraq, Kuwait, the Levant, and Oman, ''dishdashah'' is the most common word for the garment; in the United Arab Emirates and the Maghreb, the word ''kandura'' is used. In Pakistan and other parts of the sub-continent, it is often to referred to as a 'Jubbah' and designed in an ornate style in keeping with local traditions.

Arabian Peninsula

In the Arabian Peninsula, thobes are typically made with white or beige polymer fabric, with coloured wool thobes worn in the winter months. Thobes commonly worn by men and are considered as symbols of national and cultural identity, and are appropriate attire for formal occasions and religious ceremonies. In recent years, the thobes have become a popular fashion item, with many fashion designers adding their own modern twists to the traditional garment.

Thawb sleeves and collars can be stiffened to give a more formal appearance, front pockets and embroidery could be added and placket buttons can be covered, exposed, or replaced by zippers. In the UAE and Oman, men's thobes have no collar, use frog closures as placket fasteners, and include tassels; in Oman, tassels tend to be short, and in the UAE tassels extend to the waist.

Cultural significance

A thawb is sometimes worn with a '' bisht'' (), also known in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula as a ''mishlah'' () or ''ʿabāʾ'' (), meaning 'cloak'. It is usually worn on ceremonial occasions or by officials. A bisht is usually worn by religious clergy, but can also be worn at weddings, Eids and funerals.
It may indicate wealth and royalty or sometimes a religious position.
It was originally manufactured in Syria, Iraq and Jordan, and it is usually worn in the Arabian peninsula, Jordan, Syria and parts of southern Iraq.

See also

* Jellabiya
* Palestinian Thobe
* Sudanese Thobe

Notes

References

{{Clothing

Arabic clothing
Saudi Arabian clothing
Gowns
History of Asian clothing
Middle Eastern clothing
Yemeni clothing