Uzbek national clothing

Uzbek national clothing
A. Archaeological sites, frescoes, terracotta figurines, miniature paintings illuminating ancient manuscripts and the diaries of Silk Road travellers give us a fairly clear idea of the clothes worn by the ancestors of modern Uzbeks and allow us to trace their evolution through the ages. The development of clothing is closely linked with the appearance of weaving and archaeological discoveries show that even two thousand years ago, weaving was well-developed in this region. Frescoes in Afrasaib, Varakhsha and elsewhere portray wealthy citizens clad in silk kaftans while poorer folk wore simple cotton gowns. Rare examples of medieval garments found in the Fergana Valley confirm this. Finds include a long silk dress with a decoratively stitched hem and long slits up to the waist which women would have worn with a waist band or scarf. The girls’ dress is a little shorter, with flowers embroidered on the hem, cuffs and breast area, while the boys’ costume featured a thigh-length silk shirt with a straight collar.
B. By the late Middle Ages, fabrics had developed significantly, with gold brocade and striped cottons appearing. The exquisite miniature paintings produced in Central Asia in the Middle Ages provide invaluable clues to the custom and costumes of the day, too, clearly showing that a person’s dress reflected his or her religious, marital and social status; striped fabrics, for instance, were generally worn by the poorer sectors of the population.The arrival of the Mongols in the fourteenth century brought new fashions from China, such as complex headdresses topped with feathers. The basic cut of women’s dresses changed to include the very long flaring sleeves common in China, and an open neckline, while men of the day wore short-sleeved tunics
C. The arrival of the Mongols in the fourteenth century brought new fashions from China, such as complex headdresses topped with feathers. The basic cut of women’s dresses changed to include the very long flaring sleeves common in China, and an open neckline, while men of the day wore short-sleeved tunics. Under the Timurid dynasty the sleeves changed again, as both men and women now wore a double layer of shirts or dresses so the top layer had shorter sleeves to show off the colour of the underlying garment. The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries saw the development of regional styles, many of which are still evident today even though the advent of the sewing machines and factory fabrics revolutionised the clothing industry in the nineteenth century, replacing handwoven silks and cottons. Under the influence of European fashion, ladies now wore more complex dresses that emphasised their figures, and stand-up collars became popular in urban areas.
D. The foundation of the national Uzbek men’s clothing is a chapan - quilted robe, which is tied with a waist scarf - kiyikcha. Kuilak - the lower male shirt of straight cut, and ishton - wide trousers that narrow to the bottom, are dressed on the body. Legs are shod in boots made of thin leather. Dressing gowns – chapans are sewed from striped material, have vertical cuts on the sides. Pockets and buttons are not foreseen. Chapans are summer from thin fabric or winter, warm, quilted with cotton.The population of the plains oases wore soft boots along with leather shoes without backs. At the time of equestrian running the Uzbek nobility wore smart boots, the graceful heel of which was skewed to the middle of the sole, allowing the rider to keep in the stirrups deftly. The skullcap - duppi is the final attribute of the Uzbek male costume. This hat is more a tribute to the traditions of Islam than protection from bad weather.
E. The national dress of Uzbek women is a combination of modesty with femininity, mystery, eastern subtlety and grace. To sew, embroider, decorate a dress, you should have a subtle taste, talent and extraordinary patience. From time immemorial, Uzbek women wore clothes made of silk, cotton and velvet. Uzbek national wear from cotton was considered a clothing for the poor, and was the cheapest fabric. As a rule, clothes from this material were worn mainly by the poor and employees of their owners. This material had great advantages, apart from the low price, it was soft. It absorbed the heat and was painted without difficulties. Uzbek national costumes made of silk and velvet was considered festive, and mainly, it
was worn by rich people.

F. Recently, however, there has been a swing towards traditional handmade fabrics, and sumptuous silks are once again rolling off local looms to be made into a dazzling array of garments for both every day and festive wear. A modern version of a woman's costumes in Uzbekistan is made up of a dress, pants and a headdress. The length of the dress varies up to the knee and below. Pants still remain an indispensable part of the Uzbek wardrobe. As for shoes, they differ in the decor. Also there are skullcaps, in solemn occasions the Uzbeks wear beautifully decorated skullcaps. At the end of the twentieth century, domination of the western style of clothing was observed. However, the production of clothing is still happening in accordance with the traditional design, the presence of national patterns and colors. The Uzbeks with pleasure combine their clothes with modern European clothes. The combination of these two styles gives every woman the charm and uniqueness. Most of the men and women in Uzbekistan today, especially in the city, dress modernly, according to European standards.

References
1) https://www.people-travels.com/about-uzbekistan/uzbek-customs-and-traditions/uzbek-national-clothes.html
2) https://www.maisonouzbek.com/en/arts-and-cultures/traditional-uzbek-fashion/
3) Central-asia.guide
https://central-asia.guide/uzbekistan/uzbek-culture/uzbek-clothing/