Figure 1.--This large unmounted albumen print shows an Algerian boy listening to a sea shell. The dealer believes it was taken in the 1870s. It is an obviously studio poised portrait. At the time most photographic studios in Algeria wre operated by Europeans, presumably French. This portrait was probably taken for sale in Europe where Orientalism was a popular vogue.

Algerian and French boys wore different clothing. This varied overvtime. And it also varied with some Algerian cgildren in the cities wearing French styles. French children did not wear Arab styles. We do not yet have much historical clothing information on Algeria. Algeria was conquered by Arab invaders (8th century). Clothing styles appear to have become heavily influenced bu Arab styles for the next 13 centuries. We do not yet know if there were destinctive Algerian styles. Our information in these historical periods is very limited. We note Algerian boys wearing fezes, baggy trousers, amd other Arab traditional garments. Many Algerian boys went barefoot, especially boys living outside the major cities. The French began to colonize Algeria in 1830. There was Algerian military resistance until the 1870s. The French presence lasted over 100 years until 1962 ( Accord de Genèvre ). French citizens settled in Algeria, primarily in the cities, and some Algerians adopted French customs and dress, primarily in the cities. In the villages and rural areas, Algerian boys and girls continued to wear Arab styles. The styles worn by French boys were identical with popular styles in Metropolitan France. French colonia rule beginning in the 1830s had considerable influe on Algerian fashions, especially men and boy's fashions. This was especially true in the more urban areas. Algerian boys, however, might not wear short pants as much as the French boys--especially the older boys. This has become even more so after independence. Some French fashion influences have been retained. School children commonly wear smocks, usually with long pants. Algeria was one of the more westernized Arab states.

Traditional Styles (8th-18th Centuries)

We do not yet have much historical clothing information on Algeria. Algeria was conquered by Arab invaders (8th century). Clothing styles appear to have become heavily influenced by Arab styles for the next 13 centuries. We do not yet know if there were destinctive Algerian styles. Our information in these historical periods is very limited. Unlike Europe, there are very few artistic images to draw on because of Islamic prohibition of personal representation. We note Algerian boys wearing fezes, baggy trousers, and other Arab traditional garments. Headwear actually seems varies. We note a range of scull caps as well as turban-like headwear. We are not sure to what extent the garments are Arab in origin or reflect influens of pre-Islsmic Bedouin tribes. The most common garment seems to be a calf-length robe-like garments. We believevit dates tonthe middle ages, but are not sure what the garment is called. Algerian has been a very poor country. Many Algerian boys went barefoot, especially boys living outside the major cities.

French Colonial Styles (1830-1962)

The French began to colonize Algeria in 1830. There was Algerian military resistance until the 1870s. The French presence lasted over 100 years until 1962 ( Accord de Genèvre ). French citizens settled in Algeria, primarily in the cities, and some Algerians adopted French customs and dress, primarily in the cities. In the villages and rural areas, Algerian boys and girls continued to wear Arab styles. The styles worn by French boys were identical with popular styles in Metropolitan France. The differences between French and Algerian girls was even more striking than those between boys. One popular style did originate in Algeria. Two battalions of troops were formed in 1830 by General Bertrand Clausel as part of the French military occupation of Algeria. The troops were from a tribe of Kabyles dwelling in Algeria. The name of the tribe was Zouaoua, which in France gave rise to the term, "zouave". French Algerian boys wore the same garments as worn in Metropolitan France. HBC is unable to identify any significant differences at this time.

Independent Algerian Styles (1962- )

French colonia rule beginning in the 1830s had considerable influence on Algerian fashions, especially men and boy's fashions. This was especially true in the more urban areas. Algerian boys, however, might not wear short pants as much as the French boys--especially the older boys. This has become even more so after independence. Some French fashion influences have been retained. School children commonly wear smocks, usually with long pants. Algeria was one of the more westernized Arab states. Still many Algerians wear traditional dress, especially in the villages and rural areas. The ongoing civil war during the 1990s is also affecting fashion. Dressing in western fashions can provide clues as to a persons political attitudes, making one a potential target to the fundamentalists.

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Created: 4:14 PM 12/27/2008
Last updated: 4:14 PM 12/27/2008