A digital exhibition about a global icon
There are few garments that have become global icons and are recognized throughout the world. The Scottish kilt is one such icon, another is the Japanese kimono. Recently, the Afghan chadari, with its distinctive, all enveloping blue cape and face veil, has become such an icon.
For many in the non-Muslim world the chadari is regarded as a symbol of the oppression of women. This view that became even more widely voiced after the tragic events of 9/11. For others it is a romantic garment that wafts in the air as the wearer walks; a colourful, visual device used to great effect by the Iranian film maker, Mosen Makhmalbaf, in Kandahar (2001).
- Afghan chadaris and burqas
- The chadari and burqa: a brief history
- Colour coding
- Materials and construction
- Variations on a theme
- A controversial chadari
- Further reading and links
A "burqa bag," made for tourists to Afghanistan
(TRC collection)
This digital exhibition about the chadari is based upon the collection of Afghan garments, now in the TRC's collection, Leiden.
The text for this exhibition was written with the help of Miss Qudsia Zohab and Dr. Willem Vogelsang, Curator for Southwest Asia, Volkenkunde Museum, Leiden, The Netherlands.
