Although Morocco is a very old country that goes back in time to thousands of years, Moroccans still wear to this day the traditional clothing of their ancestors with very little change or influence from the Western fashion. This long history of the country, in addition to the numerous events that took place in it, affected directly and indirectly the clothing style of Moroccan people. 

Many peoples came to Morocco and lived alongside the indigenous Berber tribes such as: Phoenicians, Arabs, and Romans, and more. This diversity of cultures resulted in the creation of several unique dressing styles in Morocco, since each one of these cultures took some inspiration from the other. Whether it be robes, vests, pants or shoes… Moroccans took a little bit from each culture they came in contact with and merged it with their own traditional garments, coming up with the unique styles that we see today.

Generally, traditional clothing for women and men in Morocco consists mostly of long robes with hoods and traditional slippers. These magnificent dresses have been worn since the ancient times of Moroccan history, and are being still used today. Some of these garments however came to be because of necessity, considering the harsh weather in a lot of parts of the kingdom. For instance, the first Djellabas in Morocco were woven from thick wool, and worn in the High and Middle Atlas region during the winter months.

For a long time, Moroccans wore only their traditional clothes in their day to day life as well as for all sorts of occasions. Nevertheless, you will notice that this has changed in recent years because of the influence of the French and Spanish colonization, which forced people to dress in a westernized way in order to be seen as modern and literate (especially concerning working men). Though Djellabas and Caftans were still worn to special occasions and celebrations no matter what, even during this time. Thankfully, Moroccan youth is today finding its way back to embracing their heritage, specifically the traditional clothes of their ancestors.

Men in Morocco and North Africa in general wear up what is called Djellabah. It is a long fitting outer dress with full sleeves. Originally they were made of wool. Anyway, nowadays cotton-made Djellabahs are more dominant worldwide. This dress is known for its different colors, which give it beauty and charm. It’s also the most popular garment amongst Moroccans for being so practical and versatile.

Men in Morocco often wear up light colored Djellabah along with a traditional Fez or Tarbush which is a traditional headdress that is usually red and sometimes with a tassel attached to its top and a soft yellow babouche or Balgha which are heelless slippers made from leather mainly for religious events and wedding ceremonies. Qob is a baggy hood that is included in the Djellabah which comes to a point at the back of it.

Qob is used as a protector against rains, snow and the sands thrown by strong winds in the desert. During times of warm weather, this Qob is turned into a pocket where loaves and bread can be put. Djellabahs were made of coarse wool that is obtained from sheep living in the near mountains.

Actually, a few decades back, the Djellaba was considered a man’s dress only and it was not socially acceptable for women to wear it outside. However this changed when Moroccan women persisted to gain independence, demanding that they be able to work and share the outside world with Moroccan men. Later on, a woman wearing a Djellaba became a symbol of a strong woman with some sort of power and independency, until it finally became a totally normal and standard occurrence in day to day life on Morocco’s streets.

Another form of traditional Moroccan clothes is the Qandrissi trousers. Millions of people around the world have watched Aladdin movie and, furthermore, have been inspired by his unique wide pants. Qandrissi is originally a type of pants coming from Persia. However, Moroccan people wear them and love them as well, after adapting them to their own need. These pants are comfortable, practical and baggy. This should come as a surprise to no one since, as mentioned before, Morocco came in contact with so many different cultures throughout the years.  Moroccan men used to wear Qndrissi pants a lot, and they still do. These pants attract tourist attention quite a lot, for they come in different sizes and colors.

As mentioned above, Morocco consists of several societies which justify the diversity concerning clothing and dresses that differ from one region to another. In the Sahara, for example, which is located in the south of Morocco, men mostly only wear the Deraa which is a loose variation of the Gandoura that is open on the sides to keep the body ventilated (which is a crucial detail considering the Sahara heat). Sahrawi men also wear Qandrissi pants under their Deraa. Deraa comes in two colors mainly, blue for everyday life and white for weddings and private ceremonies.

Another important aspect of Moroccan traditional clothes in regards of Sahrawi fashion specifically is the Cheich (also known as tagelmoust). The Cheich is a large indigo-dyed cotton fabric used to tie around the head of men from the desert worn in their day to day life, to serve as shield from wind-borne sand. The fabric is dyed using indigo powder because it is believed to have beneficial effects on one’s skin. Additionally, the Cheich is also used as a way to show the social status, the financial status, and the region of origin of the wearer. This standard indigo blue fabric has become a symbol of recognition for the Touareg ethnic group globally.

As for the ladies, women in the Sahara wear the Melhfa which is different from the Djellabah. Sahrawi women wear the Melhfa to protect themselves from the blowing sands caused by rough winds in the desert. This is another instant where the type of traditional clothes worn are born out of necessity. The Melehfa is modest, but at the same flowy and breezy, which makes it the perfect dress for Sahrawi women. Melhfa is composed of a large fabric with bright colors usually worn in black and blue. Nowadays Melhfa is worn with more joyful colors.

Despite the expansion of Western dress styles worldwide, the new generation of Moroccan still use these traditional patterns of dress. This is actually, due to their practicality especially in rough climate situations in Sahara.