Clothing has always played a significant role in Persian culture, especially in rural areas where religious beliefs are strong. Since the dawn of time until the present, this has been the case. Different ethnic groups continue to wear traditional attire, displaying the history and costumes that are particular to each region. Regardless of the strict dress code that was implemented in Persia after the revolution, a wide range of clothing is still visible, especially in villages.
It’s important to note that Persia’s name was changed to Iran in an effort to signify a new beginning. Iran made its allegiance clear to the world by changing Persia’s name to Iran or Arya, which means Land of the Aryans.
Persian traditional clothing can be seen in Persian small-scale paintings, which employ both vivid and muted colors for clothing. The dress of old Persians took on a progressive form, and the fabric and color of clothing became very important. Depending on the social status, eminence, climate of the region, and season, Persian traditional clothing during the Achaemenid period took various forms.
Origin of Persian Traditional Clothing
As a consequence of the invasions and attacks, the Persians improved their engineering and architectural skills while rebuilding the cities and infrastructure. In the meantime, influence from other nations tainted their cultures.
Persians are so concerned about their appearance and are known to wear make-up, jewelry, and fragrance, paint their body parts with henna, and choose extravagant garments over the 2,500 years of their history. The style of the garments has always illustrated class and status throughout history. In early civilizations, dress codes did not have many differences between the genders, but later, significant diversions occurred between the garments.
Considering the high-ranking societies, the feeling of being renowned was the main motivation behind the fashion trends. This can also be projected to today’s world; if something becomes common, a quest for a new and unique one emerges. Response to this quest usually came through either internal or external resources, depending on the historical realizations.
Furthermore, a sizable portion of Persian women in major cities like Tehran are willing to wear chic and fabulous clothing and follow fashion trends. They imagine achieving their ambitions by being admired for their beauty and charm. The women’s headscarves are embellished with coins and gems that dangle. They further dress in long gowns with sequins, gold or silver jewelry, and a headband over their scarves. An amber and turquoise beaded hat or a gold and silver charm-studded black velvet hat is occasionally worn by men and women in Kurdistan.
Men’s traditional Persian clothes comprised long robes, thick belts, headdresses, jackets, and coats. Traditional Persian clothes are made using supplies that are easily accessible where the creator lives. Wool is frequently said to have developed in response to cold conditions, whereas cotton has evolved in response to warmer climes.
Persian culture is assorted and multiethnic, and this is shown in Persian attire. It showcases the artistic abilities of Iranian artisans in addition to serving as a reflection of the country’s cultural heritage. Persian traditional clothing for women and men is different in style and color, and it is embellished with elaborate beadwork, embroidery, and sequins that have all been painstakingly created by expert artisans.
Traditional Persian dress is so beautiful that it attracts people around the world to come to witness its beauty.
As we continue in the article, we have a clearer picture of ten amazing pieces of traditional Persian clothing: Abyaneh clothing, Bushehr clothing, Bakhtiari clothing, Turkmen clothing, Lur clothing, Qashqai clothing, Mazandaran clothing, Ilam clothing, Azerbaijani clothing, and Shiraz clothing.
10 Persian Traditional Clothing
1. Abyaneh Clothing
- cottonbro studio, pexels
In this magnificent community, the women never wear black and always keep their floral scarves on. The distinctive traditional dress of Abyaneh sets it apart from other cities because of its white backdrop and carpets adorned with vibrant flowers. They fastened the headband with a knot and put on a red hoodie underneath. Sweatshirts are embellished with silver at weddings to make them appear more opulent.
2. Bushehr Clothing
Although they are dark in color, traditional Iranian clothes for women in this region have many attractive features. The traditional attire for women in Bushehr includes long, wrinkly dresses, a thin black scarf, a thin face mask, chit pants, and kush shoes. The primary formal attire for ladies in Bushehr is quite loose and is also known as the Arabic dress. Additionally, it has lovely, delicate ornamentation. In Bushehr, most women keep their faces covered.
3. Bakhtiari Clothing
The traditional Iranian clothes of the nomadic Bakhtiari tribe, which migrates from the grassy plateau of the Khuzestan area to the mountainous Chahar Mahal, are adaptable by design and have developed to withstand the severe climatic conditions they may experience. Women are frequently seen wearing colorful, layered skirts combined with matching vests, while men typically wear tunics, broad pants buttoned at the ankle, and wool skull caps. Their lengthy head coverings are adorned with hand-stitched patterns or decorations.
4. Turkmen Clothing
- Adnan Mughal Photographer, Pexels
Turkmen are nomadic people who have resided in northern Iran along the Turkmenistan border for hundreds of years. Even though some still follow the nomadic tradition, they are now more rooted, with many residing in permanent homes and tents. Both Turkmen men and women typically wear clothing with earthy tones. Women frequently cover a portion of their faces with a fabric that hangs just below the nose while wearing long skirts with open robes. Men’s clothing is characterized mainly by wool caps, which are worn to guard against cold weather.
5. Lur Clothing
- Fauzan Muzakky, Pexels
Women tend to like bright colors and have distinctive stripes hemmed on the cuffs of their pants, in contrast to Lur males, who favor neutral colors, black felt caps, and white shawls wrapped around their waists.
The long section of the headscarf that drapes down the back is covered by a vest, which also displays the sleeves of the long dress that is worn over top. The traditional Iranian clothes of the Lurs are among the most striking due to the intricate beadwork on the garment and the coins and beads hanging from the headscarves.
6. Qashqai Clothing
The Qashqai is a nomadic tribe with a majority of Turkic, Kurdish, and Arabic ancestry; some still travel along the old migratory routes. Women may be identified by their voluminous, multilayered, vibrant skirts and long, under-the-chin-pinned headscarves that let their hair fall freely and frame their features. The males dress in long cloaks with a cummerbund across the center and white shirts without collars. The tribe’s distinctive circular dogushi, also known as “two-eared” caps, are constructed of felt produced from sheep’s wool.
7. Mazandaran Clothing
The Mazanderani are an Iranian ethnic group native to the Caspian Sea who dress more cautiously than certain other tribes that choose brighter colors. Black pants are worn by women underneath short, puffy skirts, along with tunic-style tops that are waist-length and frequently embroidered with traditional patterns.
The most ornate accessories they wear are their headscarves, which have beads and tassels on them. To keep things simple, men also wear white cotton shirts tucked into hunting pants, a plain vest over them, and black socks pulled up to just below the knee.
8. Ilam Clothing
The primary component of Ilam women’s clothing is golvani. In this region of the nation, the traditional Iranian clothes for women take on a more typical Achaemenid style. In their language, “golvani” refers to a silk scarf with traditional designs or a filler. You could find it fascinating, of course, that young girls wear smaller Golvani scarves.
This scarf is now regarded as a memento of Lorestan. These types of clothing were quite popular in the past, particularly in this region during the Medes and Achaemenid periods.
Men’s attire also includes kelaw and lacheg, a type of square-shaped headgear made of cotton with geometric patterns and a square form, as well as men’s aragchin, which is designed for the elderly and is employed in Kurdish regions.
9. Azerbaijani Clothing
- cottonbro studio, Pexels
The age and marital status of the performer of the Azerbaijani dance are reflected in the original Azerbaijani attire. Since the 20th century, Azerbaijani clothing has become more modern and has lost its use in urban settings; however, in nomadic, rural, and Azerbaijani-populated areas, it generally continues to serve the same purpose.
Women’s clothing in this area is split into three categories: sarpush, tanpush, and papush. It looks vintage, with a long shirt and scarf and a wrinkled skirt. The chadra, a kind of veil, is the most often worn article of apparel for women in Azerbaijan.
10. Shiraz Clothing
Many people think a small number of Shirazi women sew their traditional Iranian clothes for the city. Khus is a type of silver-tissue cloth, and Shiraz has acquired an Indian Khus weaving business. It is used to decorate children’s clothing as well as scarves, hats, and trousers. The large Khus scarf worn by Shirazi ladies is one of the most well-known pieces of clothing in the city. The bride’s outfit specifically uses khus weaving.
Shiraz local clothing for men, which is very attractive, consists of various components, including a long shirt that is occasionally patterned and other times plain, dark pants that are the right size, a thin silk robe with sleeves, a felt hat with a simple shape and deer horn, and a waistband that is tied to the shirt and the robe draped on it.
Final Words
As we come to the end of this insightful article, Statista market insights revealed: “In Iran’s fashion market, the number of users is expected to amount to 46.5 million by 2027.” This prediction shows that the possession of Persian traditional clothing will continually increase with time. It is so beautiful to see people’s love and attraction for their roots. It won’t be wrong to say that every piece of clothing tells a peculiar story. Dressing up has not always been for covering one’s body alone but also a representation of one’s beliefs, national identity, and cultural preservation.
