Book Title: Qashqai Traditional Dress: An Oral History Project

Authors: Zahra Falsafi and Kelly L. Reddy-Best

Book Description: The Qashqai community stands as one of Iran’s diverse ethnic groups, boasting its own unique language, customs, and heritage. Spread across various regions of Iran, notably the Fars Province in the south, where the Qashqai tribe predominantly resides, a plethora of Iranian local attire emerges, often labeled as traditional garb, regional apparel, or Turkish attire. Crafted predominantly from indigenous fabrics, these garments are a testament to the tribe’s cultural essence, characterized by distinct motifs and tailored to suit the local climate. Despite historical interventions by the government, which at times favored Western fashion trends over traditional attire during the 20th century, the allure of these indigenous clothing styles endures as a cornerstone of the Qashqai tribe’s cultural heritage well into the 21st century. The purpose of this oral history project is to document contemporary Qashqai women and their experiences with traditional dress through the oral history method.