Old vs New: Afghanistan Fashion Scene

What is the traditional clothing of Afghanistan? There has been major push back amongst the more conservative people of Afghanistan to have traditional dress become the mainstream within the Afghan fashion scene. This type of style consists of flowy and loose garments that cover a majority of the body like. . . Women: Tunbaan ⇢ this is a a loose pant that reaches the ankles under a dress or tunic. Chador/Hijab ⇢ head covering or headscarves are common and used to cover the woman's hair.     Burqa ⇢ today, only the ultra-conservative women will wear the burqa, which was once mandatory while under Taliban control (see previous post).     Formal ⇢ Women will wear a tunbaan with intricate designs and embroidery along with some bling; this bling can vary based on the region, but tiny, sewn on mirrors are common. Men:   Peraahan Tunbaan ⇢similar to the woman's tunbaan, but consists of a shirt and pants with a cloth cord called a azaarband tha...

One of the most iconic, most romanticized, aspects of Taliban Afghanistan is the infamous blue burqa. The covering was on the front page of newspapers as a cry for help in the country; the oppression of Afghan women under Taliban rule became a tool by media to gain favoritism for a war in the Middle East. It became a sign of tyranny as it was mandatory for women to wear these pale blue veils that covered the wearer from head to toe. Western media turned these women into passive damsels in distress that needed the aid of foreign power to save them from the oppressions of Islam. What the example of the mandatory burqas should have highlighted is how an interpretation of holy text that is glorified to the point of inaccuracy can lead to a dangerous status quo. It isn't the clothing. In pre-Islamic Afghanistan, the burqa was worn to showcase respectability and modesty. The idea of covering oneself is seen in any holy text, and in Islam, head or body coverings are personal choices of ...