Azerbaijani dress

Traditional Azerbaijani dress (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Milli geyimləri) has developed as a result of long processes of material and religious culture of Azerbaijani people. It is closely connected to its history and reflects its national specification.

Ethnographic, historic and artistic features of the national creativity, which were also used in creation of determined forms of it, are reflected on costumes. Azerbaijani arts reminds about itself also in ornaments of costume with artistic embroideries, in weaving and knitting.

In the 17th century, the territory of modern Azerbaijan was considered the main sericulture oblasts of the Near East and Shirvan was the main region of sericulture. Silks were produced in Shamakhi, Basqal, Ganja, Shaki, Shusha and in other regions. Fine textiles, silk head kerchiefs for women with ornaments of amazing beauty and others were produced in these cities.

Style of clothes reflected marital status and age of its owner. For example, the costume of a girl and a married woman were different; young women wore more colorful dresses.

Since the 20th century, national costumes in Azerbaijan are worn mostly in villages. Almost all national dances are performed in national costumes.

Male national costume actually was single in all zones of Azerbaijan. Class distinction the owner was reflected on male costumes.

National outerwear for men consisted of “ust koyney” (shirt) or chepken, arkhalig, gabi and chukha (humeral wear).

One of the Russian ethnographers writes about Azerbaijani male costume:

Underwear consists of straight and short shirts of coarse calico, white and mostly dark blue colors with underpants of this very material, which are fastened with tapes on the waist; in winter they are worn over woolen large pants, which are also fastened with tapes. Over a shirt is worn arkhalig made of cotton. Arkhalig is such as Russian man’s long tight-fitting coat with short waist and short skirt with gathers on the belt; it is always fastened tightly or in the midst or aside of the chest. Chukha is worn over arkhalig with short waist and with a skirt with length of below knees, but the head is covered with small conic shaped hat made of lamb fur, throughout the year. Short woolen socks are worn to feet.

...
Wikipedia