Bedouin male clothes: a thoab and serwal
Bedouin men wear a thoab, which is a long, dress-like cloth made of a mostly light fabric. Traditionally the thoab is white. But we also wear brown, blue and gray tones. Under our thoab we wear a t-shirt and serwal. A serwal is a wide, white trouser, which is also made of light fabric, mostly cotton.
Our clothes are an excellent example of development due to environmental influences. They provide us with a loose double cover that protects us from the harsh sun and blowing sand.
Shemagh and keffiyeh: the Bedouin male head covering
On our head, we wear the keffiyeh or shemagh. Wearing a headscarf is a famous, well-known tradition of the Arab men. The shemagh, the red and white cloth, can be worn with or without the agal-rope. The wearing of the shemagh is a sign of male status. A man who wears it is assumed to be able to uphold the obligations and responsibilities of manhood. The keffiyeh comes in many different colors and patterns and can be tight in various ways. How we fasten it depends on what we prefer or need at that moment.
