Uzbek clothing consists of the traditional style of clothing worn by Uzbeks. It showcases the traditional fashion sensibilities of Uzbek cultural traditions and forms one of the major cultural facets of Uzbek civilization. There are two broad types of clothing worn by Uzbeks: traditional clothing known as traditional Uzbek clothing [1] (Uzbek : oʻzbek milliy liboslari) and Western clothing, which encompasses all else not recognized as either national dress or the dress of another country.
Traditional clothing for men include various forms of headgear, most commonly a skullcap known as doʻppi, a long coat called chopon, a shirt known as yaktak, a traditional sash, and loose pants. Women usually wear clothing that covers the whole body, with bright-colored knee-length dresses with loose pants known as lozim being the most common attire. On special occasions, men wear richly embroidered chopons [2] (called zarchopon in some regions), while women wear elaborate dresses made of satin and silk that are often richly embroidered with golden thread known as zardoʻzi.
Previous generations of Uzbeks nearly entirely wore traditional clothing. Following the Russian conquest of Central Asia, Western clothing and fashion became increasingly popular, especially among younger and more educated generations. While Uzbek clothing in the Soviet era typically focused primarily on utilitarian value and was largely uninfluenced by international fashion trends, in more recent times more emphasis has been put on traditional patterns. [3] Still, it is now rare for someone to wear traditional clothing as everyday clothes, especially in cities, but doʻppis, chopons, and women's knee-length dresses remain popular, particularly in rural areas.
The doʻppi is a common style of Uzbek headgear. Uzbek doʻppis are typically square with pointed edges, but styles vary widely by region. While originally just worn by men, many women also wear doʻppis. [4] Other common traditional headgear worn by Uzbek men include the chugurma, kalpak, karakul, and lately the Islamic taqiyah.
Although the Soviet government ran a widespread anti-veiling campaign starting in the 1920s, there was considerably less attention given to men's headwear. Some ethnic Uzbek Communist Party leaders and activists wore the traditional turban, while others wore only Western-style suits. Some Jadids supported adoption of such style suits as a symbol of progress, while others considered it a form of Russification. [5]
Uzbek men's clothing has changed considerably over time. Historically, traditional outfits consisted of a striped chapan and turban. [6] Historically, chopons (called khalat in Russian sources) were given as presents to indicate fealty or approval. [7] It is still commons for Uzbeks to present elaborate chopons to honored guests.
Over time clothing styles have changed, as trousers with shirts became more popular. The doʻppi, most commonly a quilted black cap with white embroidery, has largely replaced the turban. Modern Uzbek men usually wear Western-style shits and trousers. [2]
Historically Uzbek women wore a paranja outside the home, which covered the entire body, complete with a mesh chachvon usually made of woven horsehair covering the face, [8] although it stopped being worn in Uzbekistan in the late 1930s due to the hujum. While Uzbek women in Uzbekistan no longer wear the paranja, paranjas are sometimes draped during funerals. [9] Uzbek women in Afghanistan still typically wear a burqa when leaving the home. [10]
In modern times, Uzbek women often wear bright-colored knee-length dresses with loose pants known as ishton or lozim underneath. Some Uzbek women have started wearing the hijab and dresses with long sleeves, but the practice is not widespread. [4]
Uzbekistan is one of the world's largest producers of cotton and silk by volume, although cotton production has been declining over time. [11] [12] For centuries, the land of Uzbekistan was an integral part of the Silk Road with trading hubs in Bukhara and Samarkand. The city of Samarkand became a destination for silk producers throughout the area, resulting in the transmission of various patterns and styles of weaving. [13]
A turban is a type of headwear based on cloth winding. Featuring many variations, it is worn as customary headwear by people of various cultures. Communities with prominent turban-wearing traditions can be found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and amongst some Turkic peoples in Russia.
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A tubeteika is a Russian word for many varieties of traditional Central Asian caps. Tubeteikas are today worn in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, as well as in Muslim-populated regions of Russia and Azerbaijan. The skullcap worn by Uzbeks and Uyghurs is called a doppa and has a square base. It was a popular headgear among children throughout the USSR during the 1940s and 1950s.
Clothing in Afghanistan consists of the traditional style of clothing worn in Afghanistan. The various cultural exchanges in the nation's history have influenced the styles and flavors of contemporary Afghan designs. The national dress is the fusion of different ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The styles can be subdivided into the various ethnicities with unique elements for each. Traditional dresses for both men and women tend to cover the whole body, with trousers gathered at the waist, a loose shirt or dress, and some form of head covering.
The Armenian Taraz, also known as Armenian traditional clothing, reflects a rich cultural tradition. Wool and fur were utilized by the Armenians along with the cotton that was grown in the fertile valleys. During the Urartian period, silk imported from China was used by royalty. Later, the Armenians cultivated silkworms and produced their own silk.
Pakaian is the term for clothing in Malaysia's national language. It is referring to things to wear such as shirts, pants, shoes etc. Since Malaysia is a multicultural nation: Malay, Chinese, Indian and hundreds of other indigenous groups of Malay Peninsula and Borneo, each has its own traditional and religious articles of clothing all of which are gender-specific and may be adapted to local influences and conditions. Previously, traditional clothes were worn daily. However, by excluding Baju Melayu, Baju Kurung many are now only worn on special occasions such as marriage ceremonies and cultural events.
Khmer traditional clothing refers to the traditional styles of dress worn by the Khmer people throughout history. Tracing their origins back to the early Common Era, the customary styles of dress worn by Khmer people predate the indianization of Southeast Asia. The evolution of these clothing customs can be traced through archaeological artifacts from the 6th century to the post-Angkorian period, evolving from the simple pre-Angkorian Sampot to vibrant and intricately embroidered silk garments.
Pakistani clothing refers to the ethnic clothing that is typically worn by people in the country of Pakistan and by Pakistanis. Pakistani clothes express the culture of Pakistan, the demographics of Pakistan, and cultures from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir regions of the country. The clothing in each region and culture of Pakistan reflect weather conditions, way of living, the textiles and embroidery used and its distinctive style which gives it a unique identity among all cultures.
The Taqiyah, also known as tagiyah or araqchin, is a short, rounded skullcap worn by Muslim men. In the United States and the United Kingdom, it is also referred to as a "kufi", although the Kufi typically has more of an African connotation. Aside from being an adornment, the taqiyah has deeply ingrained significance in Islamic culture, reflecting the wearer's faith, devotion, and sometimes regional identity. While the taqiyah is deeply rooted in Muslim traditions, its use varies based on cultural context rather than strict religious guidelines.
Shalwar kameez is a traditional combination dress worn by men and women in South Asia, and Central Asia.
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In the ancient Punjab region, people wore cotton clothing. Both men and women wore knee-length tops. A scarf was worn over the tops which would be draped over the left shoulder and under the right. A large sheet would be further draped over one shoulder which would hang loose towards the knees. Both male and female wore a dhoti around the waist. Modern Punjabi dress has retained this outfit but over its long history has added other forms of dress.
Greek dress refers to the clothing of the Greek people and citizens of Greece from the antiquity to the modern times.
History of clothing in the Indian subcontinent can be traced to the Indus Valley civilization or earlier. Indians have mainly worn clothing made up of locally grown cotton. India was one of the first places where cotton was cultivated and used even as early as 2500 BCE during the Harappan era. The remnants of the ancient Indian clothing can be found in the figurines discovered from the sites near the Indus Valley civilisation, the rock-cut sculptures, the cave paintings, and human art forms found in temples and monuments. These scriptures view the figures of human wearing clothes which can be wrapped around the body. Taking the instances of the sari to that of turban and the dhoti, the traditional Indian wears were mostly tied around the body in various ways.
The traditional clothing and accessories worn in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa varies according to the area of the region. The following outfits are generally worn in the area, starting to north to south:
Mughal clothing refers to clothing worn by the Mughals in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries throughout the extent of their empire. Much of them were already being used in the past centuries before their arrival in Indian subcontinent. It was characterized by luxurious styles and was made with muslin, silk, velvet and brocade. Elaborate patterns including dots, checks, and waves were used with colors from various dyes including cochineal, sulfate of iron, sulfate of copper, and sulfate of antimony were used.
In Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, and as well as Afghanistan the tunic and loose trousers ensemble forms part of traditional costume. Men will wear turbans or hats with their tunics and sirwals whilst women will wear scarves or hats.
There are two types of Saraiki shalwar suits which originate in the southern area of Punjab, Pakistan. These are the Bahawalpuri shalwar suit and the Multani shalwar suit. The two main suits from that area.
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