Robe

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

In the 19th century it was popular for Syrian women and girls from wealthy, urban families to wear coats like this after visiting the hammam (public bath), although sometimes they were elegant enough to wear outside in other settings. The layers of cloth joined together with cotton padding in between—a form of quilting—were added to provide warmth and to elevate the decoration. Syria’s location on the Silk Road in earlier centuries made it a major center for trade and production. As a result, it became renowned for high-quality textiles and skilled dyers who were proficient in techniques like ikat, embroidery, and other techniques.

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