ZAKHO, Kurdistan Region - The third annual Shal and Shapk (traditional Kurdish clothing) festival was held in Duhok province's Zakho town on Tuesday. The two-day event showcased various styles of Kurdish clothing from the Kurdistan Region and Kurdish-majority areas in Turkey, Syria, and Iran.
Marwan Bagej from the Kurdish-majority province of Mardin in southeast Turkey sold the traditional clothing from his area.
In Mardin, men's clothing consists of five pieces: a shirt, pants, a head covering, a waist covering, and a jacket. Women's clothing typically includes two pieces in different colors, priced at around $100. The Mardin headcover is especially popular and is worn by both men and women.
Sadiq Qadir is a skilled tailor from Akre. He has been making Shal and Shapk for 39 years. He explained to Rudaw that there are three main styles commonly found throughout Akre, each with unique variations depending on the area.
Hiznia Osman is from Rojava's Qamishlo, a region where traditional clothing stands out from other Kurdish-majority areas. Women's attire in this area is particularly elaborate, consisting of 12 distinct pieces.
Simbol Shujai showcased traditional attires from several areas in Rojhelat.
The clothing of Kurdish women and men in all regions, even if not exactly the same, is similar. The only differences are in design and sewing style, or having one piece more or less in some regions.