Traditional clothing around the world and what it means
Quick answer: Traditional clothing reflects climate, religion and history: the thobe and keffiyeh in the Arab world, the kimono in Japan, the sari in India, the hanbok in Korea, the kilt in Scotland and the dirndl in Bavaria.
The Arab world
Men in the Gulf wear the thobe (dishdasha) with a ghutra or shemagh and agal; Palestinian women’s thobes carry regional embroidery called tatreez, recognised by UNESCO in 2021.
Asia
Japan’s kimono is tied with an obi; Korea’s hanbok has a short jacket and full skirt; India’s sari is a single long cloth draped in many regional styles.
Europe and Africa
Scotland’s kilt uses clan tartans, Bavaria has the dirndl and lederhosen, and West Africa has the colourful kente cloth from Ghana.
Traditional dress by country
Examples often seen in quizzes:
| Dress | Country or region |
|---|---|
| Thobe | Gulf states |
| Abaya | Arab world |
| Kimono | Japan |
| Sari | India, Bangladesh, Nepal |
| Hanbok | Korea |
| Kilt | Scotland |
| Dirndl | Germany, Austria |
| Thawb with tatreez embroidery | Palestine |
Palestinian embroidery
Palestinian tatreez is a form of cross-stitch embroidery. Patterns and colours traditionally showed which village or region a woman came from. In 2021 UNESCO added the art of embroidery in Palestine to its list of intangible cultural heritage.
Arab traditional dress
Traditional dress varies across the Arab world. Men in the Gulf often wear a white thobe with a ghutra or shemagh headscarf held by an agal cord. The keffiyeh, with its black-and-white pattern, is a symbol of Palestine. In North Africa, the djellaba, a hooded robe, is common, and the kaftan is worn for celebrations in Morocco.
| Item | Where | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Thobe | Gulf | Long robe, usually white for men |
| Keffiyeh | Palestine, Levant | Patterned headscarf |
| Agal | Gulf, Levant | Black cord holding the headscarf |
| Djellaba | Morocco, Algeria | Hooded robe |
| Kaftan | Morocco | Long, embroidered festive dress |
Clothing and climate
Much traditional dress is designed for the climate. Loose, light-coloured robes reflect the sun and allow air to circulate, while headscarves protect against heat and sand.
Frequently asked questions
What is tatreez?
Traditional Palestinian embroidery, added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2021.
What is a thobe?
An ankle-length robe worn across the Arab world.
Where is the hanbok worn?
Korea.
What is a keffiyeh?
A patterned headscarf, a symbol of Palestine.
What is a djellaba?
A hooded robe worn in North Africa.