walking distance & et cetera -: Armenian Traditional Clothing

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The dress of the Armenians reflects a rich cultural tradition. Wool and fur were utilized by the Armenians and later cotton that was grown in the fertile valleys. Silk imported from China was used by royalty, during the Urartian period. Later the Armenians cultivated silkworms and produced their own silk.
The collection of Armenian women’s costumes begins during the Urartu time period, wherein dresses were designed with creamy white silk, embroidered with gold thread. The costume was a replica of a medallion unearthed by archaeologists at Toprak Kale near Lake Van, which some 3,000 years ago was the site of the capital of the Kingdom of Urartu

The traditional Armenian clothes are very colorful and various. The traditional man's suit consisted of silk or cotton color shirt with low collar and side fastener and wide trousers from dark wool or cotton. Over the shirt Armenians put on cotton or silk arkhaluk – outerwear with low collar fastened waist down with hooks or small buttons. A heavier item was called chukha; it was made of wool and worn with a narrow big buckled belt.

Western Armenians wore a waistcoat over shirt and waist length jacket with full sleeves without fasteners in front. The belt was replaced with long wide woven scarf wrapped around the waist several times.

Women's traditional clothes of both eastern and western Armenians were homogeneous. The outerwear included a long dress of arkhaluk type with a cut on chest and cuts below hips. The waist was wrapped in long folded silk or woolen scarf. The embroidered apron and decorations were indispensable elements for western Armenian women. On their heads men wore caps of different styles: the fur ones were worn in the east; knitted and woven – in the west. Women's headdresses, especially in the east, looked like a "turret" made from cotton fabric with ornaments tied with several scarves covering a part of face. Western Armenian women used to wear ornate head bands with capes.

Folk dancers of Armenia in traditional costumes

Portrait of an Armenian couple wearing traditional clothes, Armenia

Armenian woman is modest and having decency in its appearance. She used to wear loose costumes having arkhaluk style with a cut on chest and cuts below hips. Many fabrics were used for clothing like satin, silk, brocade, plush and etc.

Armenian taraz has had aesthetic value since ancient times. Being adopted to the climatic conditions and ethnic environment national dresses have been classified by class, gender and region becoming the symbol of tribal, gender and class identity. Armenian taraz is loose garment in style with grooves in front and by sides, in which the colors of 4 elements dominate. According to XIV century Armenian philosopher Grigor Tatevatsi those colors express ”the black of the earth, the white of water, the red of the air and the yellow of the flame”. The purple is the symbol of wisdom, the red – of bravery, the blue – of heavenly justice and the white is the symbol of prudence. Here is another interesting fact; by the color and form of Armenian national dress it was possible to guess whether the person is married or not, how many children he/she has and the similar, which made the role of taraz much more important in Armenian lifestyle. For example, the essential part of women’s dress was the apron, on each corner of which a life tree is growing from the decoration patterns. This composition of ornaments expressed the idea of couple’s prosperity. Silken aprons are notable by their red and yellow ornaments: scissors, pitchers, bowls and other goods that women used in lifestyle. The adornment was one of the essential patterns of the national dress, which was intended to protect a woman from evil and symbolized her modesty and gentleness. It should be mentioned that therapeutic significance was attributed to the ornaments as well; for example the pearl was considered to heal night-blindness and other eye diseases. And the belt was symbolic in the men’s attire. The silver belt was regarded as the symbol of manhood and the golden belt–the indicator of wealth. Traditions are consonant with progress. Everything is done to restore and preserve the tradition of Armenian national dress – taraz.