Old Kuwaiti clothing for Men
The Kuwaiti dress for men is not much different from the Gulf dress, but the difference is in the way of clothing and detailing. The costume in general gave the man prestige and solemnity. The old Kuwaiti dress was as follows:
- Al shalah/Dishdasha (الشلاح/ الدشداشة الفضفاضة): A light dress or loose dishdasha with long, wide sleeves. It is usually worn in the summer and is sewn from : Niso, Al-Malmel, Al-Wail fabric.
- Dakla (الدقلة): A dress similar to the previous dishdasha, open on both sides, starting from knee level; For ease of movement, it has buttons on the front, and it is only for the rich due to its high price.
- Al-Zubun (الزبون): A garment suitable for summer and winter. It is a frilled coat, usually worn by important persons.
- Alqat (القاط): It is a heavy winter dishdasha.
- Bisht (البشت): A garment worn by the nobles, tribal sheikhs, princes and statesmen during special occasions.
- Qamis(القميص): It is made of cotton.
- Farwa (فروة): A woolen coat.
- Barkot (باركوت): A woolen coat that is worn over the dishdasha.
- Sadiri (سديري): A heavy, sleeveless shirt worn over the dishdasha.
- Serwal (السروال): The inner shorts that reach the ankle of the foot.
- Ghutra (الغترة): A cloth made of cotton that is placed on the head. It was used in the past as a veil to protect from heat, dust, and the sun. Most people wore it without a headband. It is considered an essential element that covers the head when a man reaches the age of majority, and he cannot leave without it.
- Shemagh (الشماغ): A head covering made of thick cotton, red and white
- Shal (الشال): A head covering similar to the ghutra, but made of wool.
- Iqal (العقال): Worn over the ghutra or shemagh on the head.
- Qahfiya (القحفية): A cap under the ghutra
The old Kuwaiti woman used to wear clothes made of linen, cotton, silk, wool, and fabrics embroidered with gold brocade and poplin, and she was interested in adding embroidery and ornaments to them for decoration.
- Bukhnug (البخنق): A head covering usually sewn into the garment to cover the hair and the head except for the face.
- Abaya (لعباية): Its types were: shad, shawl, and darbuiya.
- Thaub (الثوب): Its types were (toor, scattered, woven, theater, zari, motil, bannouna).
- Sheila (الشيلة): An old popular veil, which is similar to the modern short veil, and is still used today.
- Al-Mulfaa (الملفع): It is a cloth for covering the head and neck, and it was for elderly or advanced women.
- Daraa (الدراعة): Robes, and for decoration, it is embroidered and ornamented, and it is a home dress.
- Burqa (البرقع): Covering the face, which is a type of full burqa, from which only the eyes are visible, and the hollow burqa, which shows larger parts of the face.
- Zaboun (زبون): A long dress usually made of fine silk.
- Bushiya (البوشية): The niqab or veil, but its length is about two meters, and it is wrapped around the head and the body, and it is the length of the dress.
- Serwal (السروال): Undergarments that provide women with more protection (trousers).
- Clogs/Slippers/Medas (القبقاب/ النعال/ المداس): Old, simple shoes with an open back, showing the toes.
