Where to find turbans and robes?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Where would one be able to buy the cool-looking turbans and robes they show Shiite clerics and whatnot wearing in Iran and Iraq? It seems that the turban, at least, is a vestige of the Ottoman empire.

I’d wear the ensemble to work, but I’m afraid I’d be misunderstood. Probably sent to an insane asylum. (Slacks and button-down shirt one day, turban and robes the next. People will think I’m having disassociative personality disorder or something.)

WRS

2
      • Ehhhh… well.
        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
        — I doubt that the real places that supply the real things to the real people would want anything to do with your heathen unwashed hide. Parading around in religious garb is hardly being considerate of others’ beliefs, and if you insist in doing it I would advise you to steer clear of the Arab part of town–but that’s not what you asked.
  • The places that I am certain can get you these things are theatrical costume suppliers–they take great pride in being able to find or make anything. (Try searching for the words “theatrical costume suppliers” and your city’s name, or the name of the nearest large city in Google) Depending on exactly how they’re made, something truly authentic-looking might be fairly-to-very expensive (if they have a lot of intricate embroidery on the collars or whatever), but you should be able to find a “generic cleric” outfit fairly easy. E-mail or post an image online that shows what you are wanting–or print it out and take it there in person, if you happen to live in a big city with a theater district. It might take them some time to get it or make or alter it–they give priority to maintenance and repair work that they do for theater production companies, and they will charge a lot to interrupt that work for your concerns.
  • The second-best option is regular lower-priced costume suppliers, who will likely have a “generic Arab robe” and “turban” but a real Muslim may see these are fake from 50 feet. Ordinary folks will get the idea though–not necessarily a good idea, but poor taste is rarely in fashion anyway.
    ~
3

You certainly won’t gain any credit calling them turbans. That’s what Sikhs wear.

4

???

Though the exact local terminology varies, turban is a general word appying to similar headgear worn all over the world ( the word “turban” probably derives from the Persian dulband, as does the word “tulip” ). Muslims ( but not all Muslims ) wear them, Sikhs wear them, in the past at least some Jews wore them, some Christians do, even some Hindus and Buddhists wear them. It’s a cultural headgear whose religious significance, if any ( and there most frequently is none ), varies from community to community.

Iranian Shi’ites do have a sort of “code” of who wears what colors and who doesn’t ( i.e. descendants of the Prophet wear black turbans ), but elsewhere it is purely a matter of personal style ( or tribal or regional affiliation - in Afghanistan for example you can sometimes tell who is from where by their choice of headgear ).

  • Tamerlane
5

Apologies, it seems I was mislead

6

Hey, no problem. We all have some misinformation floating in our heads about something :).

  • Tamerlane
7

There was some doper at one point who dressed up as an arab for renaissance faires. Maybe you can find him somehow. I remember he said he had gotten death threats addressed to his renaissance faire persona’s web site after 9/11.

8

I have no desire to make fun of any religion or religious dress, that’s for sure. If I do wear something, it would be at an appropriate occasion.

What’s so interesting to me is that with all the millions of Shiites, there are so few commercial websites for or by Shiites.

There are many, many types of turbans. Sikhs wear one kind, the people of India wear another kind, the Sindhis wear another, Shiites and the people of the former Ottoman Empire wear a different type. Regardless, turbans look real cool. :slight_smile:

WRS

9

Quickly scanned, I found two places online. Might be worth checking out.

http://www.alhediya.com/

10

More Muslim clothing…

http://www.muslimclothingonline.com/

http://au.store.yahoo.com/shukr-australia/index.html

11

Duuude, that is so 14th century. Today’s mad phat is wearing turbochargers. :cool:

12

An illustrated guide to turbans: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/nation-world/crisis/theregion/turbans.html

The Iranian black turban is very cool looking, but, as has already been noted, you’ll need to be a descendant of Mohammed to wear one of that color.

I am not an expert on Iranian fashion, but I think the problem with online retailers is that most Iranian men don’t wear long robes and/or turbans. I image that the minority of men who do wear such garments get them tailor-fitted. Just a WAG, though.

Your best best would probably be contacting a costume manufacturer, like DougC suggests, or someone in the SCA who specializes in Middle-Eastern/Persian dress.