Each country has its own culture and own dressing styles. Hanfu is the traditional dress for women in China; Saree is worn by Indian women, Kimono by Japanese and Takchitas by Moroccans.
As a matter of fact, Moroccans are known world over for their dress making styles. One will remain stunned seeing the delicacy and beauty of the craftsmanship of the Moroccans. The traditional handmade dresses are particularly most attractive and renowned. This style is a reflection of the creativity of the craftsmen from this region who play a great role in keeping the tradition of the country alive.
The main point to note in this craftsmanship is that the tailors and dressmakers rely on their hands to create beautiful dresses. The output is very high in quality with fine needlework accompanied by mesmerizing embroidery and handmade laces. The materials used by these dressmakers are of the highest quality. They use fine fabrics which include cotton, velvet, silk, satin, thread, gold etc.
The traditional handmade dresses can be categorized into – dresses for men and those for women. There are dressmakers who have expertise in making dresses for men, create djellaba or a long dress for men. This dress is made from various fabrics and also is available in various colours. Djellabas may be made from cotton for everyday wear or from wool or linen to keep the wearer warm. An interesting thing to note is, that in some parts of the country the colour of this traditional dress denotes the marital status of the person wearing it.
The other dressmakers who create dresses for women make Takchitas and Kaftans. Takchitas resemble Moroccan Caftans and are worn at special functions like weddings etc. This traditional dress is made of two pieces. The first layer is a dress which is made of fine fabric which is ornamentally decorated. The second layer is more elaborate and is worn on the first layer or the dress. The second layer of these Takchitas is an over-dress that can be buttoned in the front using traditional akaad and sfifa closures. This upper layer is usually adorned and richly decorated with sequins, beading, or embroidery. This first layer is called Tahtiya and the second one is called Dfina or Fougia.
Many people confuse Caftans or Kaftans with Takchitas. However both these are not the same. Takchitas are worn with a belt called Mdamma made of silk or gold or silver and is decorated with valuable stones like ruby, diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. Takchitas are a two-piece dress. On the other hand, Kaftans are a one-piece dress worn without the Mdamma or belt.
Many celebrities worldwide have flaunted these Takchitas and Kaftans. A few notable ones include politician Hillary Clinton, singer Beyonce, American star Jessica Simpson, and American actress and the winner of the Academy Award Susan Saradon.
The Royal family of Morocco flaunts their traditional dress at international events. Most Moroccans regard Princess Lalla Selma to be the biggest shining star of the royal family of Morocco who has made the traditional Moroccan Kaftan and Takschita famous globally.
Today fashion shows have contributed largely in bringing Kaftans and Takchitas to the world. In fact some fashion shows have kept Takchitas the main theme of the event. A few common fashion shows which have highlighted Takchitas and Kaftans include Caftan 2009 broadcasted on Fashion TV, Caftan 2012 held at Palais Des Congres Marrakech which was aired on the national TV of Morocco and the Moroccan Caftan Show held at London.
Till quite recently, people globally were not aware of what these dressing styles were. Yves Saint Laurent, JP Gautier, Kenzo, and Christian Lacroix were amongst the first haute couture designers to import the Moroccan Takchitas and Kaftans into their design catalogs. There is a range of Takchitas available online. One can simply own this beautiful traditional dress of Morocco with the click of a mouse. Next time, if you wish to wear something unique, traditional and different do try out these Moroccan outfits.
Nilesh D Patel
