Georgian traditional articles of clothing are fascinating because they have similar silhouettes from Middle-Ages fashion. The Middle Age or Medieval period lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. There are Georgian traditional clothes and dances references that date back to the Medieval era or King Tamar reigned. She was the first female queen in Georgia from 1184 to 1213. But we are not going to talk about dance now, Georgian dances are for later.
Now, each region in Georgia have their own ways of wearing their clothes but the silhouettes are the same. The men traditional clothing is called Chokha. Depending on the regions, Chokha is worn differently and has some varieties over time and ethnographic regions. They can be different in appearance like length and fullness of the bodies skirts and pants, It is sometimes made from thick wool fabric and some has cartridges for gunpowder. There are four types of Chokhas, Kartl-Kakhetian Chokha, Shida Kartli and Kakheti in the Eastern regions of Georgia. Khevsuretian Chokha from Khevsureti Region and Adjarian Chokha are worn in the west of Georgia, in the regions of Adjara and Guria. All of the Chokha are lined with silk. (Images taken from Georgian National Museum).
The Chokha is a 19th century attire from Televi, Kakheti. The caucasus dagger is between 18 to 19 centuries. Cheqma or leather boots are 19th century boots. The Akhalukhi is the top and pants that men wore underneath the Chokha during the 19th century. It is typically made from sateen fabric. Images taken from Telavi Museum in Telavi, Kakheti, Georgia.
This is a Chokha, the belt is called Kamar-Khanjali. The boots are called Aziatska. The headdress is called Papakhi and it is made from sheep wool. There are different colors of the headdress, white and black.
Just like men clothes are different from regions to regions, women clothes also differ. (Images taken from Georgian National Museum).
This is a Rachuli dress, it is also a dance. It is from Racha a region close to Sveneti. (Photographs and Clothing by Tako Tedoradze. Model: Khatuna Trapaidze).
This is traditional Khevsuruli dress from Khevsureti Region. The jewelries are called Jinjili and the headdress is called Mandili. The Mandili headdress can be worn by women of any age. (Photographs and Clothing by Tako Tedoradze. Model: Khatuna Trapaidze).
This dress is a traditional dance dress called Daisi. The headdress is called Chikhti-kopi. Photographs and Clothing by Tako Tedoradze. Model: Khatuna Trapaidze).
Here is me wearing Adjaruli traditional clothing from the Adjara Region. The belt is called Skartuli and the headdress is Mandili.
As you can see most of the clothing is tied to Georgian traditional dances because the dances and clothes celebrate Georgian culture. Many Georgians typically prefer wearing traditional attires as a way of national pride, weddings, festivals, funerals, etc. There are prominent designers, such as Nicolas Grigorian and David Koma; who’s collections is inspired by the Georgian traditional wear, like the Chokha.
You can read more about Georgian Traditional clothing on the Georgian Journal and Vogue. Next time, I will be talking about Georgian traditional dance.
“15 things to know about Tamar the Great – First female monarch of Georgia” GeorgianJournal, 12 January 2018, https://www.georgianjournal.ge/discover-georgia/34095-15-things-to-know-about-tamar-the-great-first-female-monarch-of-georgia.html .
This blog will document my experiences in the Republic of Georgia. The posts on this blogs reflect my opinions and views and do not reflect any position of the Peace Corps or the United States Government.
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