Caftan History

The caftan is a sort of garment that can be easily worn by man and by women. The caftan has a long history and there are many variations out there on the market, which are used by designers in order to provide the most comfortable, modern and practical garments.

History says that caftan comes from Mesopotamia or from Asia Minor. These regions were the first and then the caftan spread around the African countries. By the 13^th century the garment has spread in Eastern Europe and also in Russia. Then it got to Turkey and then to countries like Poland and Hungary.

At that time, it was a very popular material. In the 16^th century, during the Ottoman Empire, the caftan had many lengths. They used to make them from satins, silk, metallic threads or velvet. There were luxurious materials made for caftans and they were used by dignitaries, ambassadors, various officials and bureaucrats. Many variations were created and usually people preferred to add belts, sashes and other accessories.

It is only recently that caftan made it to the west. That happened mostly in the 1960’s when the material appeared in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. The material was much appreciated all around the world and it got great reviews. Nowadays this material has gone through some changes but it is still considered to be practical and modern. Some of the caftan models still use the Moroccan and African essences. The caftans can be easily customized to fit any person’s style. There are many ways to use them: cover up or even turn it into a night gown.

The material can be accessorized with jewelry, depending on the owner’s taste. Today the variations with cotton or with some silk are the most popular and used in a wide variety of models, all around the world.