Caftan The expression caftan or Kaftan from Ottoman Turkish caftan is used to refer to some full size, loosely-fitted garment with long or shorts worn by both women and men, primarily from the Levant and North Africa. The caftan is very similar to the more voluminous djellaba dress of the Middle East. The origin of this caftan is usually tied to Asia Minorant Mesopotamia. Caftan-like robes are depicted from the palace reliefs of ancient Persia relationship to 600 B.C.E. From the thirteenth century C.E., the design had spread into Eastern Europe and Russia, where caftan styles supplied the model for a range of different primary garments well into the nineteenth century.

From the 13th century, the caftan had spread into Eastern Europe And Russia, where caftan styles supplied the model for a range of different primary garments well into the nineteenth century. From Russia the caftan made it way to Turkey. The Turks also embraced caftans, and subsequently brought the design to Hungary and Poland when they conquered those lands. At the Ottoman Empire of the 16th century, Caftans of varying Lengths were constructed from rich Ottoman satins and velvets of metallic and silk threads were worn by courtiers to signify status, maintained in court treasuries, used as tribute, and given as robes of honour to seeing ambassadors, heads of state, important government officials, and master artisans working for the Imperial court. Men’s caftans frequently had gores added, causing the caftan to flare in the base, while women’s clothes were closely fitted. Girls were more likely to include sashes or belts.

A sultan and his courtiers may layer a couple of kaftan dress with varying length sleeves for ceremonial functions. An interior short-sleeved caftan, was usually fastened with an embroidered sash or jewelled belt, whereas the outer caftan may have slits in the shoulder whereby the wearer’s arms were thrust to display the sleeves occasionally with detachable expansions of the internal caftan to flaunt the contrasting fabrics of these garments. Following a trip to Morocco in the early 1960s, Diana Vreeland Published a series of articles in Vogue championing the caftan as trendy for The Beautiful People. Yves Saint Laurent and Halston were artists who comprised caftan-styled clothes in their lines. Since that time, caftans continue to have a market for at-home and evening wear. The caftan is currently marketed globally as fashion. Having a long and elegant history- worn by emperors and kings, Modern use of the term caftan can be broadened to encompass a range of similarly styled garment types.