Traditional Garments of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province

Garments of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province are apparel that reflect the popular heritage in the clothing of men and women in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the past, garments differed from one person to another, based on the person's financial and social status. Hence, some garments were expensive, while others were affordable. In general, these traditional garments were the most notable within the heritage context.

In the past, in the urban areas of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, men's attire consisted of a turban, a thobe, a vest, a belt, and a shawl. The traditional dress code was a white or colored thobe, a belt wrapped around the waist, and a vest worn over the thobe. A turban was wrapped around the head, and sometimes a shawl was placed on the shoulders. The clothes are usually woven from linen or cotton, and they also include medium-sized pockets to carry some things, such as money and prayer beads.

Among the parts of ancient costumes is the turban. It is made of thin wicker, and its external part is covered with a silk cloth of different colors. Its inner part is also lined with a silk cloth whose colors are limited to white or blue.

In the past, the designs of the vest worn in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah were different, as merchants, senior officials, and dignitaries used to wear expensive vests with silver buttons.

Residents of the surrounding villages used to wear similar clothing to current men's garments. These clothes did not feature buttons, and their sleeves were different, they were spindle-like wide sleeves, known as "al-Thobe al-Murawdan". They used to wear a white ghutra with red-colored edges on top of a round black Agal.

The people of the villages of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah wear belts according to their tradition. Materials used for the belts vary, as some people wear belts made of leather, while others wear belts made of red and white striped cloth.

Bidi abaya is among the traditional costumes in the province, especially in the desert. It is a short, sturdy cloak made of camel wool. It is also used as a quilt by the people living in the desert. Costumes also include the normal black and red abaya.

Kurta is one of the traditional garments for women in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province. It is a garment covering the body from the neck to the feet. It has long sleeves covering the hand and comes in a variety of hues and fabric quality. The color of this dress is determined by the age of the woman who wears it. Older women are known to wear light-colored Kurta, while young women wear silk Kurta with bright colors. Women wear Kerta on visits and special occasions.

The cotton vest is worn at home, features a frontal opening, and has golden buttons. It is worn with pants often made of white cotton fabric featuring dark colors or black stripes. The best type of pants is al-Halabi. It is made of golden silk fabric.

Mehrama is worn to cover the hair. It is made of cotton cloth and has two types: an unadorned typical type and another whose edges are manually embellished. The second type is used for weddings and events.

The Hijab was worn by women in various forms in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. It took the form of al-jawiya garment, burqa, and abaya. Al-jawiya garment is a black cloth that covers the entire body except for the face. Burqa is worn on the face. It features a slit for the eyes. It is usually made of linen or multi-layered cotton. Abayas also cover the head. They are long black robes that feature a frontal opening.

In al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, brides used to wear a traditional costume known as al-Shara'a al-Medini. It is a dark pink dress embellished with golden threads of reeds and knickers. It also has a part that covers the head and is available in multiple designs.

There are other costumes for the bride, such as Zabon Shara'a, Manthour Shara'a, Mahaf Shara'a, Ifrangi Shara'a, and Misk Shara'a.