Deel (clothing)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this
article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material
may be challenged and removed.
Find
sources: "Deel" clothing – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (Dec
ember 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Mongolian deel for a man (left) and a woman (right). This type is especially used by Bayads, one of the Tribes
of Mongolia.
Men in traditional Mongolian costumes (deel) before starting of a local Naadam festival in Kharkhorin
National costume
A deel (Mongolian: дээл [deːɮ]; Buryat: дэгэл [dɛɡɛɮ]) is an item of traditional clothing
commonly worn since centuries ago among the Mongols, Turkic, and Tungusic
peoples and can be made from cotton, silk, wool, or brocade.
The deel is still commonly worn by both men and women outside major towns,
especially by herders. In urban areas, deels are mostly only worn by elderly people, or
on festive occasions. The deel appears similar to a caftan or an old European
folded tunic. Deels typically reach to below the wearer's knees and fan out at the bottom
and are commonly blue, olive, or burgundy, though there are deels in a variety of other
colors.
Contents
1Description
2Types
3References
4External links
Description[edit]
The deel looks like a large overcoat when not worn. Instead of buttoning together in the
middle, the sides are pulled against the wearer's body, the right flap close to the body
with the left covering. On the right side of the wearer are typically 5 or 6 clasps to hold
the top flap in place. There is one clasp below the armpit, three at the shoulder, and
either one or two at the neckline.
A deel is traditionally worn with a large sash, usually made of silk or leather belts with
large, ornate buckles have become more common in the modern era. The area between
the flaps and above the belt creates a large pocket in which Mongolians keep many
things, Mongolian men will occasionally even carry a silver bowl or cup, or even a snuff
box in their deel. Though there is no major difference in material or outline between
male and female deels, females tend to wear the "pocket" closer (that is, women often
prefer a more snug-fitting deel), while males' may have both larger pockets, looser fit,
and wider sleeves.
In Mongolia, the usage of the word deel has been extended to cover other long winter
coats as well. For example, fur and leather overcoats of western design are referred to
as "nekhii deel" and "sawkhin deel", respectively, meaning "fur deel", "leather deel" and
"cashmere deel", which is made of the luxurious material cashmere. Nevertheless, other
Mongol regions, such as Bortala in Xinjiang retain the specific meaning of the word
"deel" as the traditional garment, and refer to other overcoats as "olondoi".[citation needed]
Types[edit]
Deel design varies among cultures, ethnic groups and time periods to a certain degree.
There are even distinct variations among different Mongol tribes mostly on the design of
the upper chest opening edges. For instance the Khalkha Mongol deel opening edges
are round while a Buryat deel's is square. It can also vary among other tribes such
as Chakhar, Torguud, and Uzemchin. Deels are designed for different occasions and
environments. The design also varies due to function. There are deels for ceremonies
like weddings and holidays and deels for daily wear. Deels for special occasions have
their outer layer made of silk while the common deels are usually made of
wool, cotton and other relatively inexpensive materials.
References[edit]
External links[edit]
Media related to Deels at Wikimedia Commons
"Mongolia Today" article
