djellaba machzania

The djellaba machzania is a long, hooded robe that fits over regular work clothes and hangs almost all the way to ones feet. It usually also has wrist-length sleeves and a v-shaped opening at the neck which is often embroidered and, on women, closed with a decorative clasp. It has no pockets but does provide openings through which one can reach to get at the pockets of clothes worn underneath. In general, men wear light colors, which is important since it reflects the light of the very strong Moroccan sun. There are also light colors for women, despite which many of the women use dark greens and browns, reds and pinks and even blacks. For everyone, the hood is vital as a protective shield against the sun or, in earlier times when it was a particularly terrible problem, against the sand carried by the desert winds. The hood is quite large so that it can fit over the traditional erraza or turban.