Turkish salvar

Traditional baggy trousers of Turkey
Men wearing salvar in Istanbul in 1873, studio photo

Turkish şalvar (pronounced shalvar, Turkish: [ʃalˈvaɾ]), Turkish trousers or dimiye are traditional baggy trousers gathered in tightly at the ankle. They are part of Turkish folk dress.

Men may wear the traditional loose coat, called jubba, over the şalvar. Other upper garments are also worn over or under şalvar.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Westernized the dress code in Turkey in the 1920s as part of his reforms. However, men and women still wear the şalvar in many areas of Turkey, indifferent to social status.[1]

Similar pants in other cultures include the tshalvar, schalwar, salwar kameez, kaccha, patiala salwar, shintijan, sirwal, sharovary, aladdin pants, balloon pants, drop crotch pants, pantaloons, zouave, pluderhose and pumphose.


In female dress

The traditional clothing for women of Turkey includes the şalvar which is usually worn with upper garments of varying styles and lengths. The traditional şalvar suits are a part of Turkey's culture back to the Ottoman era.[2] The şalvars are of varying degrees of bagginess and are gathered at the ankle.[3] Bright colours and flowered prints are favoured by rural women.[4] The total female ensemble includes the gömlek (chemise), şalvar and entari (robe).[5]

  • Studio portrait of models wearing traditional clothing from Istanbul, Ottoman Empire
    Studio portrait of models wearing traditional clothing from Istanbul, Ottoman Empire
  • Greek Christian Ottomans of Cyprus, 19th century
    Greek Christian Ottomans of Cyprus, 19th century
  • Traditional Turkish dress in Selçuk, pre-2007
    Traditional Turkish dress in Selçuk, pre-2007
  • Traditional Turkish dress worn in General Kiselvo, Bulgaria
    Traditional Turkish dress worn in General Kiselvo, Bulgaria

In male dress

The traditional male dress includes the şalvar, yelek (vest) and cebken (jacket).[6] The men's salvar is popular in eastern Turkey and are often worn by Kurdish men, especially in the districts of Mersin, Adana, Urfa and Diyarbakir.[7]

  • Turkish trousers with over the calf socks
    Turkish trousers with over the calf socks
  • Samovar bearer in Istanbul
    Samovar bearer in Istanbul
  • Jewish Ottoman using Turkish salvar, Late-Ottoman era, end of 19th century
    Jewish Ottoman using Turkish salvar, Late-Ottoman era, end of 19th century
  • One cut of salwar
    One cut of salwar

See also

References

  1. ^ Miller, Louise R (1998), Turkey: Between East and West
  2. ^ The Report: Turkey 2008. The Oxford Business Group
  3. ^ Schneider, Dux (1975) Turkey
  4. ^ Gale Group (1999) Reference Library of Arab America: Countries & ethnic groups, Kuwait to United Arab Emirates [1]
  5. ^ Scarce, Jennifer M (2014) Women's Costume of the Near and Middle East
  6. ^ Quataert, Donald Consumption Studies and the History of the Ottoman Empire, 1550-1922: An Introduction [2]
  7. ^ Sinclair, T.A. (1989) Eastern Turkey: An Architectural & Archaeological Survey, Volume I, Volume 1 [3]
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