History of the Harem Pants

Harem pants are those baggy trousers that one may notice worldwide these days. Despite having initially achieved a somewhat scant success, they have in recent years been able to find their way into the wardrobes of a diverse and wide-ranging audience. From Persia to the Fashion Week parades, this article sheds light on the harem pants and its unusual journey through history.

 

The Origins of the Harem Pants

 
The harem pants or “sirwal” are trousers with a distinctively wide and low crotch until the knees. This garment has reached us from Persia after having survived many eras.

 

From the Silk Road to the Sahara

 
Originally from Persia, harem pants were being exported to other countries during time of the Silk Road. Located at the crossroads of trade, culture and wealth, this road often compared the Amber Route—constituted a meeting point of merchants from all backgrounds. These tradesmen who embraced the baggy pants would become the pioneers of the spread of the sirwal after traveling back and forth between Asia and their home countries. This is how the Persian trousers reached certain parts of the Sahara and more specifically the inhabitants of North Africa, but not only them. Indeed, the harem pants will later cross the Caucasus and even reach Turkey, where they become part of the traditional Ottoman costume for centuries.
 

Source : https://desert-maroc.com/les-touaregs/

 

Unisex Baggy Pants

 
Men living in hot regions are particularly inclined to harem pants because of their comfort. Wide, fresh, light, moisture absorbent and made out of cotton, they are the most adapted garment to arid climates. However initially restricted to men, harem pants will very soon likewise turn into a women’s dress.
 

Harem Pants for Women

 
In Europe, women trousers will only become common in the twentieth century. This phenomenal, however, appeared much earlier in Persia, where women already wore them over the last few centuries. In order to be suitable to Persian women whilst meeting the religious standards at the time, harem pants were designed with grace and a lot of care.

Source : Wikipédia

Its wide cut was feminized, redesigned and refined with materials that would be more elegant and noble. Containing velvet, satin, silk, embroidery and beads, women pants now became bursting with style and finesse.

Source : Pinterest

 

Harem Pants in Maghreb’s Traditional Clothing

 
Harem pants are found in many North African traditional outfits, whether they be for men or women. These garments that are worn at weddings or cultural ceremonies—mainly in Algeria and Tunisia—consist of baggy pants, a vest and a velvet jacket. The different parts of these outfits are often richly embroidered with gold. The woman cuts are more refined and their embroidery is more intricate.

Source : https://www.elkhadra.com/fr/

 
In the past, kings, queens, warriors, men and women in general, have all been seduced by harem pants. And they still are. This is a success story that goes well beyond the countries of the Arabian Nights. It is not until the roaring twenties that these unisex trousers arrive in France. The history of harem pants in the West lies here.
Categories: Sarouel
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