Egyptian Boys Clothes: Chronology



Figure 1.--Here we see Egyption boys celebrating the investment of the young King Farouk in 1937. Note that almost all of the celebrants wear traditional dress and this is in Cairo. The wire service caption read, "Young Egyptians cheer their boy king: King Faroul, the 17-years-old monarch of independent Egypt, drove in state from his palace here to to parliament for his inestiture today. A widely enthusiastic reception was given him by dense crowds and thronged the gayly decorated streets." An alternative caption read, "Associated press photo shows young Egyptians who commandered a tram from which to cheer their young monarch as he drove through Cairo to Parliament for his inesture." The photograph was talen July 29, 1937.

Few countries have a longer history than Egypt. And a great deal is known about clothing in Egyptm, even in ancient clothing. In fact we known more about clothing in ancient Egypt than during the Islaic period until modern times. Clothing in ancient Egypt was almost always linen which is made from flax. Clothes were made of linen because flax was the only plant growing in Egypt that was used for clothing. The actual weaving of linen fabric was done on a loom, usually by women. Textile manufacture and dressmaking were actually the only areas of the economy that remained predominantly in female hands. White linen needed constant washing. It was washed in the river or canal, rinsed, then pounded on a stone, and, bleached in the sun. Linen clothes needed to be repleated every time they were washed. Important Egyptians were often depicted with pleated skirts. Only high status individuals had pleated clothes because the pleating process involved so much labor. Pleating required pressing the linen into grooves on a wooden board and letting it dry. The most interesting feature of Egyptian clothes is that styles changed so little over the long sweep of Egyptian history. Since there were no new styles, Egyptians took great pride in keeping themselves and their garments immaculately clean. Of course clothing is affected by climate. We do not know much about clothing during the early Islamic period. As best we can tell, however, the ankle-length robes commonly worn in Egypt even today date from medieval times. After the Arab conquestt and the onset of the Islamic period, clothing becomes more difficult to follow because od the Koranic prohibition on pictoral depictions. These garments seem little changed for more than a millenia. With the spread of photography into the Middle East we begin to learn more about Egyptian clothing (late-19th century). We begin to see Western dress among the affluent in the cities during the early-20h century. Traditional clothing continues to be very common.

Ancient Egypt

Few countries have a longer history than Egypt. And a great deal is known about clothing in Egyptm, even in ancient clothing. In fact we known more about clothing in ancient Egypt than during the Islaic period until modern times. Clothing in ancient Egypt was almost always linen which is made from flax. Clothes were made of linen because flax was the only plant growing in Egypt that was used for clothing. The actual weaving of linen fabric was done on a loom, usually by women. Textile manufacture and dressmaking were actually the only areas of the economy that remained predominantly in female hands. White linen needed constant washing. It was washed in the river or canal, rinsed, then pounded on a stone, and, bleached in the sun. Linen clothes needed to be repleated every time they were washed. Important Egyptians were often depicted with pleated skirts. Only high status individuals had pleated clothes because the pleating process involved so much labor. Pleating required pressing the linen into grooves on a wooden board and letting it dry. The most interesting feature of Egyptian clothes is that styles changed so little over the long sweep of Egyptian history. Since there were no new styles, Egyptians took great pride in keeping themselves and their garments immaculately clean. Of course clothing is affected by climate.

Byzantine Era


Arab Conquest (7th century)

We do not know much about clothing during the early Islamic period. As best we can tell, however, the ankle-length robes commonly worn in Egypt even today date from medieval times. After the Arab conquestt and the onset of the Islamic period, clothing becomes more difficult to follow because od the Koranic prohibition on pictoral depictions. These garments seem little changed for more than a millenia.

Mameluke Era


Ottoman Era (16th-19th century)


Modern Era (19th century- )

With the spread of photography into the Middle East we begin to learn more about Egyptian clothing (late-19th century). The basic styles worn seem to be essentially the same as those worn since the Arab conquest (7th century) with some Turkish influences. Photographs taken iun the 19th century or even the early-20th century often could represent scenes centuries if not a killenia earlier. This is an observation of enormous potent. Fashion is a reflection of a much more ikportaht trend. At a time that the Western world was experuencing enormous social change and technological advances vastly improving economic productivity, Egypt and the Arab world languished in a cultural and economic stupor. Many Egyoptians today are prone to blame the West and conlonialism for their predicament. The simple fact is that Egyot's backwardness dates not from the British colonial era, but from decline of the Caliphate when Islam began to supress rather thn promote learning (13th century). In fact much of the country's modern infrastructure began to be put in place only after the British instituted a protectorate (1880s). There is a total unwillingness to see the countrty;s lack of progress in the modern world as a result of their own cilture and Islam. Some if thgese trends are mirriored in fashion and clothing. We begin to see Western dress among the affluent in the cities during the early-20h century. As late as the Wold War II-era, hiwever, very few Egyptiand wore Western dess (figure 1). This changed somewhat after World war II and Nasser's period of Arab Socialism. Thus we see large numbetrs of Egypotian wearing western dress, especially in the citues. And more so than most Arab countries we see girls as well as boys wearing Wrstern dress. Traditional clothing continues to be very common, especially iun rural areas and we also see it in the cities. The resurgence of Islamic fundamentalism has canged this trend somewhat, especially for girls.








HBC






HBC Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site:
[The 1880s] [The 1890s]
[The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s]



Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Smocks] [Long pants suits] [Knicker suits] [Short pants suits] [Socks] [Eton suits] [Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer] [School sandals] [School smocks] [Sailor suits] [Pinafores] [Long stockings]



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Created: 7:40 PM 6/6/2010
Last updated: 1:07 AM 7/21/2012