Al-Mishlah al-Hassawi or al-Ahsa'i (al-Ahsa Cloak) is the most expensive type of cloak in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its high price is due to the quality of its materials, the skills of its maker, and its ornamentation with golden zari imported from Germany, France, or India.
The process of weaving the Mishlah goes through seven stages, starting with al-Tarkeeb, al-Tawq, al-Haila, al-Buruj, al-Maqsar, al-Qitan and al-Khabana, and finally, the stage of al-Bardakh in which the zariis embroidered. Weaving the Mishlah requires ten days to six months.
Weaving al-Mishlah is one of the inherited industries among al-Ahsa families. Al-Ahsa weavers used to teach their children this profession from an early age. With the advent of the automatic industry, many weavers made it their hobby.
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