A kaftan dress, also known as caftan, kaftan, or kaffiyeh, is an upper garment worn by women from several regions in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of South Asia. Kaftans can be made from different kinds of fabric but are mostly made from light materials such as silk and cotton. Often, they are decorated with intricate embroidery or have large decorative buttons on them.
The history of the Kaftan
A Kaftan is an ancient Middle Eastern clothing style. The Kaftan emerged as part of women’s fashion in Turkey and Persia over 2,000 years ago. Throughout history, these dresses were reserved for royalty and nobility. Today, Kaftans remain popular throughout North Africa and the Middle East. But recently, westernized culture has brought them into popularity across America as well! If you want to look like a true fashionista, then you need to learn how to make your Kaftan dress.
How to choose fabric
The best type of fabric for a kaftan dress is light and flowing. Silk, lace, and chiffon are great options, although cotton will also work well. When choosing a fabric, ensure that it has enough drape that it flows easily without restriction. However, you don’t want to use one with too much drape so that it hangs down around your feet. That might look beautiful on someone else but won’t look good on you!
Cutting and fitting
When creating a kaftan dress, you can always use an old sheet or table cloth as your base. Once you have figured out how long and wide you want your dress to be, it’s time to cut! Remember when measuring to leave at least 20cm of extra material around each side of your body (depending on how daring you are) to allow for fitting. When cutting avoid sharp edges as these will catch easily on something when wearing.
Sewing techniques
A kaftan dress is a loose-fitting garment that covers your whole body. For basic sewing skills, you should have an in-depth knowledge of how to use all kinds of sewing machines, such as sergers, regular machines, and overlocking machines. You will also need experience using darning needles, high-quality threads, and elastics. Plus there are buttonholes, zips, and elastic waistbands too!
Finishing details
The finishing details of your kaftan dress will depend on what you are looking for in your final design. While most dresses require sleeves, these can be as simple or as complicated as you would like them to be. From full-length sleeves or even cap sleeves to short fitted ones or even spaghetti straps.
What is a Moroccan Djellaba?
Woven by the Berber people of Morocco, this garment has been worn there since ancient times. The design differs by region and gender, and it remains an important symbol in traditional Moroccan fashion. But what exactly is a djellaba? In this article, we’ll take you through all you need to know about it! Read on to learn more about the history of the djellaba and why it remains important to Moroccans today.
A brief history of the djellaba
The djellaba, a long gown with tight sleeves and an equally tight headscarf, has become known as Morocco’s national garment in recent years. But, like many elements of Moroccan culture, its influence predates Islam. Both Judaism and Christianity featured similar forms of dress in their historical past. Today these other cultural traditions have all but faded into obscurity–leaving behind little trace of their existence beyond names for some garments that bear resemblance to Moroccan fashion djellabas.
A few fun facts about the djellaba
a djellaba is a long, ankle-length robe. It can be worn over your clothing or as an additional layer on its own. A traditional djellaba comes in many different colors and styles, but they all share two things in common: they are loose-fitting, and they are made of cotton. Modern variations also come in different fabrics such as polyester, silk, and wool. However, these are less common for everyday wear than for special occasions like weddings.
How to wear a djellaba
A djellaba (sometimes spelled jilbab) is an outer garment worn by both men and women in North Africa, especially Morocco. It looks like a loose robe or tunic and can be made of wool, cotton, linen, or silk. Usually, it’s secured with a sash around one shoulder. The djellaba was originally worn by native Berbers but over time it has become popular across North Africa and even in other parts of the world including Europe and America!
Types of djellabas
Like other types of clothing, Moroccan djellabas have evolved. Traditionally, these loose-fitting garments were draped over a person’s head and shoulders. Today, however, djellabas are mostly made in fixed styles with varying lengths. Some djellabas reach nearly to the wearer’s ankles; others end just above or below his knees. Most djellabas are black but some feature bolder colors like red or white.
Where you can find one today
While they’re not as ubiquitous in Morocco today, you can still find men wearing djellabas in certain areas. In Fes, for example, almost every man wears one and you’ll certainly see them on many street corners there. If you visit Marrakech, Essaouira or other cities around Morocco, it’s likely that at least some of your guides will be dressed in these robes. The same goes for most Moroccan weddings and other formal events where guests are expected to dress formally. If you want to wear one yourself but don’t have an opportunity to go to Morocco, look online or check out shops that sell Middle Eastern clothing—you should be able to find something similar!