Thobes have many names- Kandura (in the UAE), Dishdashah( in Oman, Kuwait, Iraq, and the Levant), and Jallabiya in Egypt. The modern Thobes can be traced to men's wear during the beginning of the Islamic era and its popularity expands as Islam spreads.
Its manufacture can be traced to Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. Then, the Arabian traders and other people influenced by their culture began to wear the Thobes. The Arabian Peninsula is known to have scorching sun, deserts, inadequate water, and sandstorms.
Thus, inhabitants must wear simple clothing that protects them from UV rays and suits their lifestyle. Thobes is their go-to clothing as it meets their clothing requirements. The long thobe and turban prevent heat strokes and sunburns. It's made from cotton and wool, although the styles differ around the globe. This outfit is a cultural heritage as it hasn't been replaced with modern wears like suits and ties.
Thobes also have a history in Palestine. The Palestinian women's thobe is a long tunic from the 18th century. It usually features embroidery with a mosaic of colors and patterns that designate women's social status. In fact, the thobe now represents the political identity of the wearer in Palestine.
Types of Thobes
Formal Thobes come in several styles. The collars, stitching, and pattern(some have designs) are usually different. They're worn for traditional occasions and sometimes reserved for the Jummah prayer.
Casual Thobes are worn at home, used for running errands, for prayers on regular days, etc. They're pretty comfortable, and you can wear them either in the evening when you're back from work or early in the morning. Some of the Thobes have short sleeves but still, work out fine.
Reasons Why Men Wear Thobes
- Protection from Ultraviolet rays: As said above, Thobes guard the body against sun and UV light exposure. It fulfills the health needs of inhabitants in the Arabian Peninsula as regards their weather and clothing.
- Beautification: There are various styles of Thobes, and wearing one is a way of beautifying yourself. You can appreciate the beauty Allah (SWT) gave us when you see people wearing Thobes or even when you wear them. Dressing in a manner that's not regarded as showing off is an excellent way to appreciate Allah's blessing. Thobes help you to accomplish that.
- Heritage: We can also trace the history of Thobes to the days of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It's a piece of clothing familiar to divine religions- Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. To this day, some Christian priests wear long robes similar to Thobes.
- Protection: The primary reason for wearing clothes is to cover your nakedness. Parts of the body must be protected at different times and environments. Thobes are an ideal piece of clothing that meets the dressing's requirements.
- Piety & Moral Connotation: Thobes depicts religion and morality. Of course, western civilization brought changes to many things, including our dress sense. But Thobes still reigns today. Muslims, especially, are holding on to this moral connotation attire and wear it whenever it pleases them.
Different Thobes Around the World
Thobes in the United Arab Emirates is called Kandura. The robe is quite similar to the Saudi men's. There's a difference, though; the material and cuff. The Dubai cuffs are buttoned, which gives the Kandura a formal look. They're usually worn for social events, at home, school, work, etc.
A collarless and short sleeve version is also excellent home wear. The Kandura are in various prints, although the professional ones are plain and dedicated to formal occasions.
In Oman, the Thobes are called Dishdashah. Its chest style is prominent - it's a triangle crest and collarless. It's famous around the world, and the embroidery keeps improving.
They wear the Dishdashah with a gutra like the rest of the Middle East. It's worn for different occasions- both casually and formally. It's the most versatile of all the Thobes around the world.
The Thobes in Saudi are the most straight and traditional. They're like long button shirts that extend to the ankles. The Thobes are made from high-quality material, so they're widely sought after. The Saudi Thobes have open cuffs as opposed to Dubai's Kandura. The sleeves are loose and have no buttons or cuffs. They're also plain, hence, perfect for several activities.
The Morrocan Thobes are pretty interesting. They're different from the usual white robes and have embroidery on the sleeves. In addition, they're of different colors and have a pattern. The Morrocan thobes are comfortable to wear as they're manufactured from various materials and colors. They even have a hooded version that requires an underneath shirt during formal occasions.
In Bahrain, the thobe is similar to a polo. It's a loose shirt with a comfortable collar. The idea behind the Thobes is comfort and ease. They can be worn for different settings and are also ideal for traveling.
It's similar to the Saudi Thobes. However, the Qatari Kandura is looser and has more buttons than the Saudi's. Moreover, the Qatari version has a sheen from the polyester used to manufacture the clothing. Finally, the cuffs have holes for cufflinks, making the Kandura different from others.
How to Wear Thobes
Generally, Thobes come in plain colors, and there are some ways you can spice up the attire. You can wear it with different accessories like;
Thobes are perfect for casual and formal outings. Using a classic wristwatch can take the Thobes from casual attire to formal one. Likewise, you can wear it with bracelets and brands for casual occasions.
If your thobe is devoid of patterns, you can add them. For example, you can wear a cardigan, blazer, coat, jacket, etc., to add a series of prints to the outfit.
Your shoes can be the statement piece when you wear a thobe. You can wear it with a range of shoes that'll suit you and brighten your overall look.
You can make your Thobes more stylish with a leather bag. Your thobe will look unique with the bag and set you apart from others.
You can wear caps to add a touch of elegance to your Thobes. It can be baseball caps or prayer caps. Fortunately, there are a variety of colors and patterns, so you can choose anyone you love. Suppose bright colors aren't your style, for neutral.
How to get Quality & Elegant Thobes.
At Hida Apparel, our mission is to provide you with the best Thobes you need for your daily activities. We have a series of styles, and you'll definitely find your choice with us.
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