Afghan women's dress

T. 1312

Silk taffetas "Ikat", printed and stitched silk taffetas, printed cotton canvas, silk gros, embroidery with polychrome silk, gallons in metallic thread, golden cord

Ricordi di viaggio. Abiti e accessori dal vicino Oriente donati alle Collezioni Tessili - Genova - 2012

Women's dress made from various types of fabric, mainly silk taffeta, sewn together in a patchwork style. Some pieces are printed, others painted, and others woven using the ikat technique. One piece of fabric is woven using a mixed technique: canvas and grosgrain. The bib and the edge of the sleeves are embroidered with multicoloured silk thread in geometric patterns, while the back hem of the skirt is embroidered in a single colour. The entire dress is stitched with straight seams, waves, stylised leaves and flowers. The stitching also binds the underlying lining of raw canvas, possibly hemp, in the upper part, which is thinner in the skirt, while the lining of the sleeves is made of cotton and sewn diagonally. Inside the bib is a printed and lined cotton canvas, hand-stitched and sewn at the neckline to completely close the opening. This cut is tied at the top with eight coloured ribbons and two gold ribbons, passing through a gold braided eyelet; gold braids are also applied. The skirt is gathered under the spur and has a series of small pleats in the centre of the back, held together by a cord at the top, which is unstitched, and one at the bottom.