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Bedouin Clothing.
Traditional Egyptian Clothing, Bedouin Clothing, Galabeyas & Accessories.
Presenting a collection of cultural Egyptian and Bedouin clothing consisting of Galabeyas, Shawls, Head Scarves and Jewellery.
Galabeyas are long flowing loose dresses with deep armholes and wide sleeves often decorated with silk cords.  This style is comfortable, cool and modest for both the climate and culture. Galabeyas are usually only worn outside the home by women from country villages and Bedouins however, many city women wear cool cotton galabeyas to relax in their homes and often more elaborate styles for entertaining.  These can be made from the finest silk or velvet and embroidered with jewels.  Bedouins have worn galabeyas for many centuries and these are usually made from black or blue cotton embellished with contrasting hand-embroidered cross-stitch.  The galabeya is perfect for a nomadic life style and the desert climate allowing any breeze to circulate whilst retaining its practicality and modesty.  The geometric embroidered areas of the galabeya are on the chest, sleeves and above the hemline.  Galabeyas for special occasions can be made of silk or brocade and worn with lovely Bedouin jewellery usually silver.  The galabeya is traditionally worn with a headscarf or veil arranged and folded to form a headdress combined with, but not always, a fast cover often decorated with a variety of coins, embroidery, beading, jewellery and tassels.  The burqa is not just a religious custom but also a practical one to protect the woman's face from the heat, wind and sand.  Men also cover their faces in the desert environment.  Married women wear a piece of black cloth on their forehead called an 'asaba'.  Shawls are also embroidered with contrasting cross-stitch and sometimes a loose jacket called a jubbe is worn over the galabeya.  It should be added that Traditionally the Egyptian or Arabian woman would never dance in any of these cultural dresses (Galabeya's).  However, it has been seen on a very rare occasion by professional dancers in Egypt.

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