Moroccan Djellaba

The djellaba is the clasic Moroccan garment with a long sleeves and loosely fitting hooded. Although traditionally a outer robe. The light summer djellaba can be worn seperatly . Djellabas come in a variety of styles, patterns and colors, with equaly as many different materials.Typically, men traditionally wear a hat (kufi) or a red fez hat (tarboosh) and soft yellow leather slippers (babouche) with a djellaba.Women also wear djellabas. The hood is of vital importance for both sexes as it protects the wearer from the sun and in earlier times was used as a defence against sand being blown into the wearers face by strong desert winds. It is not uncommon for the hood to be used as an informal pocket during times of nice weather, and can fit loaves of bread or bags of groceries. Djellabas are made of a wide variety of materials, from cotton or rayon for summer-time djellabas to coarse wool for winter djellabas. The wool is typically harvested from sheep living in the surrounding mountains, sometimes goat or camel hair is added especially in the heavier winter djellabas. Then a long process of turning the wool into yarn is carried out (normally by hand). It is then woven in the fabric to create the garment. The djellaba is worn by both men and women; the men's style is generally baggier while a women's djellabas is generally tighter and can sport elaborate decorative embroidery in a variety of colors. Women normally add a head scarf. Almost all djellabas of both styles include a baggy hood called a 'cob' that comes to a point at the back. Traditionally Djellabas reach right down to the ground but nowadays they are becoming slimmer and shorter.

Shop Morocco as just added New Winter Djellabas to it's 2010 Collection

Moroccan Jewellery

Moroccan jewels and necklaces are the products of Moroccan artisans,whose work and skill draws on a deep wealth of Moroccan tradition.
They rely on their taste and talent to produce fine works of art, styles and colours. Useing materials traditional in each of their local communities. A skill that as been passed down from generation to generation.

Moroccan Artisan Carpets

Morocco’s appeal to travelers is Artisan normally available for a decent price. And, for those gifted with the art of bartering a even better price can be achieved. One of the most sought after items in Morocco are carpets. For those armed with the knowledge of what makes a quality carpet and a basic price range to begin the wheeling and dealing, buying a carpet in Morocco can be a rewarding experience (and make your living room look astounding).

Local Moroccan women who make the carpets often are not the ones who end up selling them. In some small villages, where women’s cooperatives exist, the women are involved in pricing and selling process. They might even have set prices, which are what many travelers prefer, especially if they aren’t into bargaining while sipping tea for two or more hours in a crowded medina alleyway.

Therefore, if possible, attempt to visit a local artisanal shop or women’s cooperative to have an idea of what prices are fair for different types of carpets. One type of carpet is the heavy woolen type that is available throughout the country. In Rabat, which is one epicenter for these types of carpets, travelers can search the medina – which happens to be one of the most laid-back souk areas in the entire country. These types of carpets are different than others you’ll find elsewhere in Morocco because of their design that holds true to basic Islamic Art patterns. Usually, these carpets have one central motif that works its way to a highly detailed border. Before looking at a carpets central theme, look over its border. If it is detailed, solid, and thick, then the carpet will cost more money than another without the same outer-edge workmanship.

Knowing the different prices for carpets is quite difficult. The rule goes: If a buyer is happy with the price, then it is a fair price to pay. While this thought process is a little different for western travelers who would rather have something fixed, you’ll begin to understand the mentality better after a few days’ experience in various marketplaces. An old antique carpet that is more than 50 years old, for example, will be worth quite a bit of money, especially if it has been taken care of and withstood the tests of time. Other, more modern carpets may appear bright and illustrious, but their colors will fade over time – something that actually adds to the original look and feel of the piece. Knowing the difference between what chemical and natural (or vegetable) dyes will help.

Overall, a carpet can be judged by how many knots it has per square meter (or yard). Excellent carpets that fetch the highest prices might have nearly 350,000 knots in it per square meter (or about 300,000 per square yard). This type of workmanship is hard to find, but can be had if one looks hard enough. If a carpet vendor claims that their carpets have more knots than this, then you know that it is a far-fetched tale. Additionally, outside of the Rabat region, carpets vary in length, design, and craftsmanship. With hundreds (if not thousands) of types available, it will be dependent upon your taste and ability to spot a well-made piece that determines what sort of carpet you’ll bring home. These patterns will include geometrical patterning and not have outlandish repetitions of the same design. These carpets are often called hanbels or kilims. Other carpets, which are thicker and well made, are called zaneefi designs, while a shoedwi is a type of carpet that is usually made up of mostly black and white designs.

At Shop Morocco we have a wide range of Moroccan Carpets

The Kufi Cap

A kufi or kufi cap is a brimless, short, rounded cap. By custom it is most often worn by African people and/or the African diaspora.It is very popular all over the kingdom of Morocco.
The Kufi comes in many colours and decorative patterns.

Moroccan womens dress

A perfect example of the Moroccan fashion revolution towards modern trends displays in the Kaftan. This traditional Moroccan style dress transforms the cumbersome and often weighty fabrics to sheer, free flowing gowns. These lightweight, sleek gowns highlight modern Moroccan fashion moving in the direction of western style modernism. This new fashion allows for freer movement due to the less bulky and sizable fabrics.

Moroccan fashion is not a carbon copy process. Rather, painstaking efforts ensue to present lines of clothing that appeal to all different shapes, sizes and needs of Moroccan women. This begins with exceptional quality fabrics arriving from India, Japan, China, Middle East and France.

Upon arrival, designers and tailors labor over each fabric as if it were their own. Creative energies draw from the fabric as designers and tailors review pliability, sensuality and textures. Fabric colors primarily remain in the chartreuse to rich rust color families. There is a good representation from the gold and silver families as well. In the final creative stages, designers and tailors rely on tribal accessory pieces to bring an outfit together. These pieces represent that which is traditional Moroccan style. Pairing a piece of tradition with a modern style creation bring the overall ensemble from old world charm to new world flare.

Moroccan fashion bridges the gap between maintaining traditional values and keeping up with modern styles. Each piece speaks to what Moroccan women want their dress to say about them. The fashion pieces created by the designers and tailors of Morocco execute this to perfection. The fine balance between cultural requirements and present day trends will pave the way for future success in the Moroccan fashion industry.

by Sam Mitchell

Join our affiliate Program

Join Shop Moroccos affilliate program
and earn cash commissions

Moroccan Slippers, Babouche

The Moroccan Slipper or Babouche as been around as long as the djellaba, and are a important part of traditional Moroccan dress.And can be used indoors or out.
Made from leather the babouche very durable and comfortable slipper.Which can last many years.Yellow is the traditional colour but they also come in almost any colour with as many designs. Womens babouches can be highly decorated with sequins etc.

Djellabas, Djellabas, Gandoras !

Check out Shop Morocco's New stock of Mens Djellabas.Starting for as little as €15.99. Men and Womens Gandoras Starting for as little as € 9.50. All quality garments at unbeatable prices.

The Turban

Although the Turban did not originate in Morocco.The turban is traditional and is a very practical head dress used for many purposes. The nomads of the Sahara Desert use the turban to protect them selves from the wind, dust, and cold during those harsh dry cold winter days. Also against the pounding heat of the day. In the hot Sahara Desert a turban helps keep a cool moist layer between the skin and the fabric. This way, the skin is protected and at the same time the body doesn’t loose too much water through evaporation. Touareg wear a turban and cover their faces except the eyes even when they need to eat or drink.

The Kaftan

A kaftan is a man's cotton or silk cloak buttoned down the front, with full sleeves, reaching to the ankles and worn with a sash.

The kaftans worn by the Ottoman sultans constitute one of the most splendid collections of Topkapı Palace in Istanbul. Some of them were so precious that they were given as rewards to important dignitaries and victorious generals during elaborate religious festivals.

Kaftans were often embroidered on the front and on the sleeves, but like everything else under the Ottomans, there was a strict hierarchical order in the colours, patterns, ribbons and buttons, which were chosen according to the rank of the person to whom they were presented.

While in the 14th century large patterns and subdued colours were used, these became both smaller and brighter in the next century. By the second half of the 17th century, the most precious fabrics were those with 'yollu': vertical stripes with various embroideries and small patterns, the so-called "Selimiye" fabrics.

In Morocco kaftans are only worn by women, and are substantially different from their Turkish counterpart. The kaftan is the original moroccan dress. It can be dressy casual to extremely formal (similar to a western dress) depending on the materials used. They can be worn during at dinner parties, baby showers, engagement parties and weddings.

Winter Djellaba

Keep warm this winter with this winter djellaba
from Shop Morocco for only €30

Moroccan Clothing

Morocco is a country rich in history, traditions, people, and culture. Every part of these aspects influences how Moroccan people are dressed. Among the variety of clothes you will find in Morocco,
The Djellaba and Gandora are the most common.These fine garments speak of the luxurious clothing style of the country.
The Djellaba, a typical robe that you cannot miss from the very first few seconds after arriving in Morocco. According to the many people we have met who have professed to be experts in many areas, there are three basic types of djellaba for men and two basic everyday options for women. For both sexes, the machzania or "government" djellaba is the most common throughout the country. For the men, there are also the northern and the southern djellaba, and for the women there is the kaftanlamic religion of Morocco is also a key factor in the way that Moroccan people dress. The djellaba covers the whole body and is therefore an acceptable modest outfit.
The Gandora unlike the Djellaba dosn't have a hood,and normally has short sleeves.This Gandora has strong embroidery on the neck and sleeve openings,a pocket on one side and a slit on the other. Like the Djellaba the Gandora is a very traditional moroccan garment.

Tarboosh

The origins of the fez, or "tarboosh" in Morocco, is not clear. The design may have come from ancient Greece or the Balkans. In the 19th Century it gained wide acceptance when the Ottoman rulers moved to modernize traditional costumes. The brimless hat did not get in the way of a Muslim's daily prayers and was cleaner and less cumbersome than the turban. The name fez is believed to come from Fez, the city, which once produced the hat's red dye, made from crimson berries.

The traditional dress

The traditional dress for men is called djellaba; a long, loose, hooded garment with full sleeves. For special occasions, men also wear a red cap called tarbouche and mostly referred to as Fez. Nearly all men wear babouches soft leather slippers with no heel, commonly in yellowbut also in many colours. Many women do as well but others wear high-heeled sandals, often in silver or gold tinsel.
The distinction is the djellabas has a hood, while a Gandora does not. The women’s djellabas are mostly of bright colors with ornate patterns, stitching, or beading, while men wear djellabas in plainer, neutral colors. Women are strongly attached to their "Moroccan wardrobe", despite the financial costs involved. The production of such garments is relatively expensive, as most of the work is done by hand. Despite the costs involved most women purchase a minimum of one new kaftan or "tk'chita" every year, normally for a special, social event, such as a religious festival or a wedding. Nowadays, it is an unwritten rule that Moroccan dress is worn at such events.For more info on Moroccan dress visit Shop Morocco