Azerbaijani national costume

The Azerbaijani national costume is a very beautiful outfit that reflects all the national specifics of the people. In the process of creation, the costume underwent changes, just like his country. The national costume is original and beautiful. Every detail in it is a certain symbol.

People learned how to make their own clothes in very distant times. Archaeological excavations found on the territory of Azerbaijan indicate the presence of this skill three thousand years ago BC. e. Bronze needles and knitting needles, gold jewelry, earthenware vessels in the form of shoes were found then. All this speaks of the skill of people and the development of culture already in those distant times.

In the 17th century AD, Azerbaijan was considered one of the main regions for the production of silk. Fabrics were famous for their beauty, patterns. Surprisingly beautiful scarves and other things were produced.

As in any national costume, the Azerbaijani costume has a number of features that are unique to it.

The colors are dominated by bright red juicy shades. Moreover, even the bride sews a wedding dress from red. For Azerbaijanis, red is a symbol of well-being and happiness. The word "azer" itself is translated from Arabic as fire.

Young girls preferred to wear outfits made of bright and colorful fabrics, decorated with various golden patterns. In this they differed so much from Georgians and mountain women, who preferred to wear dark-colored clothes. Therefore, bright colors are a distinctive feature of the national costume of Azerbaijani women.

The material for the manufacture of costumes was diverse, both of its own production and imported. Silk belonged to the local, which they learned to make a very long time ago. Linen, wool or chintz were used for clothes for every day. Wealthy people could wear clothes made of more expensive fabrics - velvet, silk, fine cloth and "tirme".

Finishing clothes could make an expensive and rich-looking suit out of the simplest outfit. Craftswomen with the help of embroidery with beads, gold and silver threads, braid, fine lace created a real work of art. Usually the edges of clothes, sleeves, and caftan shelves were decorated. Casual clothes were decorated with bright eye-catching stitching.

They used coins made of precious metals as jewelry that could be collected for generations.

Azerbaijani men put on a shirt, trousers, a beshmet narrowed at the waist, in cold weather a sheepskin coat was put on top. Among the things of the men's costume, the Circassian stood out. A Circassian coat over a shirt tucked into pants, boots and a hat on his head - this is what a real man looked like in Azerbaijan. This image of the men of the North Caucasus was adopted over time by the Terek and Kuban Cossacks.

In a tight-fitting Circassian coat, a Caucasian warrior looked very beautiful on horseback - broad shoulders, a thin waist, a slender muscular figure. The Circassian coat is worn buttoned up, with folded sleeves.On the chest there are special pockets - gas pockets. Gas tubes were inserted into them, in which there was gunpowder for exactly one shot, or bullets were added. The large size of the pockets helped to avoid wounds from chopping blows during an opponent's attack. Over time, gazyrnitsa lost their direct purpose and became an element of decoration.

A mandatory attribute of the costume was a belt on which cold weapons were hung. The headdress was a hat made of sheep or astrakhan fur.

Women's costume consisted of a shirt, the sleeves of which expanded to the bottom, a short caftan and a long puffy skirt. All these things were embroidered and decorated with various decor - gold threads, various patterns, precious coins. The outfit was sewn from bright fabric, usually red.

Hats of various shapes, caps, scarves of various colors and sizes were put on the head of a woman. Unmarried girls covered their heads with a cap like a skullcap, which was decorated with beads or silk. Married women tied several scarves on their heads, such a headdress was called a dingya.

They wore socks or stockings on their feet, which were with various patterns. They were knitted by women themselves from wool or cotton threads. The patterns on the stockings resembled the patterns on the carpets.

Women's shoes were shoes without a back, with a pointed toe and a small heel. They were worn in warm weather. And in winter, rawhide shoes - charyg - were put on their feet.

Men wore charygs in the countryside, and in the city they wore shoes, mules or boots.

Various ornaments served as accessories. They began to be worn by girls at the age of 3-4, rather, as a talisman against the evil eye. And by the time the girl got married, she already had a whole collection of jewelry. They were not always allowed to be worn.It was forbidden to wear jewelry on the days of a religious ceremony, within 40 days after death or childbirth. Older women could only wear modest earrings and a pair of rings. The difference between the decorations of the rich and the poor was not very noticeable, they were similar in type. The rich had precious stones in their jewelry, they could be more difficult to make.

Before marriage, girls did not wear belts at all. At the wedding, the bride's parents gave her the first belt - kemer. After that, the woman began to wear belts, they already showed her married status in society. The belt was decorated with coins and fastened with a large hook-and-loop buckle.

Now on the streets of Azerbaijan you can no longer meet people dressed in national costumes. They were worn until about the 20th century, and in the countryside a little longer. But you can see them in theatrical performances, museums.

But at the moment, the idea of ​​bloomers, a long skirt, outerwear similar to things from the Azerbaijani national costume was taken as a basis by many European fashion designers. Therefore, when you see such things in Italian clothes, do not be surprised. Local designers in Azerbaijan are also beginning to return to their culture in fashion.