The Algerian blouse… when elegance and authenticity are embodied in attire.

The National Museum “Bardo” in the Algerian capital is hosting an art exhibition titled “The Craft of the Needle,” which celebrates traditional Algerian clothing.

The exhibition includes rare artifacts of traditional Algerian attire, some dating back to the 16th century, in a step to highlight the distinctiveness of these garments in their craftsmanship and the beauty of their embroidery.

Among the most prominent pieces on display are the “Glila” and the “Kaftan,” in addition to the Oranian blouse, garments that are still passed down to this day in Algeria and maintain their status in occasions and celebrations.

The Art of Embroidery

Algeria recently submitted a file to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to register these garments on the World Cultural Heritage list.

The museum contains an important collection of garments and highlights the embroidery craft found on most Algerian clothing across various regions of Algeria.

The embroidery craft was originally specific to men, appearing on clothing, embroidered saddles, and shoes before it transformed into a women’s craft.

Embroidery is incorporated into various garments such as the “Karako,” “Glila,” and “Kaftan,” some of which are internationally classified, and others which Algeria seeks to classify in the future.

Behind these distinctive garments lies unique work, and even the materials from which the clothes are made are precious and beautiful, which creates the difference in each one.

“We preserve these traditional garments for generations,” said a traditional clothing maker.

The Algerian Blouse as an Artistic Canvas

The Algerian blouse is considered attire for occasions and celebrations for Algerian women, especially in the city of Oran. It is not merely a garment but an artistic canvas bearing the imprint of Algerian craftswomen and telling a story of authenticity and beauty in western Algeria.

The blouse is an artistic document reflecting the elegance of Algerian women not only in Oran but throughout western Algeria to the southwest.

The blouse is not just a single piece; it combines many elements within it. There are more than 30 types made from thermal fabric, specific to occasions like the “Za’im” and “Jawhar” blouses, related to the type of embroidery such as “Fetla,” “Majboud,” and “Kantil,” and related to events. There is the blouse worn with the “Kaftan” and “Jebbadouli,” or those specific to funerals and the “Hammam,” which are hand-embroidered with the “Hissam” stitch along with “Beniqa.”

There are accessories for the blouse, such as the “Hwik” and “Abrouq,” which are worn over the blouse when a woman leaves the house, and the specific jewelry for it, with each region having its own unique jewelry.

The Algerian blouse reflects a very beautiful visual art that represents not just one region but many provinces in western Algeria.