What makes you anything: Have Arabs lost their sense of Inherited Fashion?

Here is another piece that I wrote maybe three years ago on Arab traditional fashion. A good example on writing skills at an amateur stage. Keep in mind, these are opinions of mostly undergraduate students studying in an American university in Egypt. Very opinionated, don't consider this as a generalization of Arab traditional fashion.

The Kafiya scarf

Dazzlllee - with sequins and colorful shrouds! What is your version of an Arabic outfit? Is it necessary to retain traditional values? And what is it that makes you a part of a race?

What is tradition? In simple words, it is simply the preservation of cultural values over time. Values however, is not only restricted to morals, habits and food but also clothing—fashion. Every country has its own traditional clothing from the colorful Kimonos in Japan, the Kanga in Kenya and let us not forget the Sari that Indians proudly wear even in a foreign country. These countries and others have preserved this icon of identity over generations as ‘their’ fashion. So what is ‘Arab Fashion’?

Thai student studying Arab Studies described Arabs as “those people who consider themselves Arabs sharing particular collective ideas such as tribe, culture, language and religion (in some cases)."

First of all we need to familiar ourselves of the term Arab. Arabs, modernly in geographic terms, are known to be those mostly who come from West Asia and North Africa. Most of them may share common languages, culture and traditions. When outsiders think of the word Arab, they always think of the image. They would describe their image of the outfit as “colorful and long, pretty ornate with embroidery and stuff like that,” Political Science student from the US said. Another student when asked about what he thinks when the term Arab is pointed out the words: “Hijab, white Thoub and the Kafiya."

So People from the West and Far East have a colorful idea of the clothes ‘Arabs’ may wear. Either that or veiled and let’s not forget the famous Kafiya. This is what most people would argue is what the whole world sees.

So do we still conserve our traditions? In another way, do we still wear traditional clothings from time to time? A few others like Petroleum Engineer student from Yemen and Communications Media Arts student from Egypt have said that they did wear it but only for occasions such as the Thoub and Galabeya.

Mostly seen among Arab Gulf countries
Alternate spellings used The Thoub or Thobe is a garment with long sleeves and the length varies depending on the country’s tradition. It is mostly seen in white but there have been instances of other colors like brown, dark blue and black. The Galabeya or Jelabiya is known to be used by the Persian Gulf women and is also seen in Egypt. It is used as a casual or evening wear. Egyptian student studying Marketing Communications said that she does “not like it” and an Egyptian student studying Biology explained that he “normally don’t find it important to wear or pretty."

And why don’t we wear these traditional clothes if not for special occasions. It seems that we’ve had a lot of influence from the West. We are certainly influenced by them through mass media. The effect it has is not only to the Middle East but reaches globally. Another Egyptian studying Communications, when asked whether she wore any traditional clothes answered, “No, because it is trendy to wear Americanized style of clothes like jeans."

Maybe westernization is a modern term for many. So what would we describe a ‘Modern Arab’ as? French student studying Biology says that a Modern Arab is usually “westernized” from what he sees in his university. When asked whether there is anything for them to retain their traditional image, he explained that “there is no link between the clothing and culture."

Well, that means clothing is not important to retain traditional customs. Another Egyptian studying Communications said: “It is not really important to wear traditional clothing and it all depends on your personality."

However, it is not seen as something necessary as Egyptian student studying Journalism said: “I don’t wear any traditional clothes because I don’t own any, and also there is no reason that requires me to do so."

Then again, does wearing these traditional outfits really make you an Arab?