Druz Milkmaid's Apron

Syria traditional clothing dresses folk Druz


From the Djebal el Druz (also called Djebal il Arab) region southwest of Damascus, a green velvet milkmaid's apron. Machine embroidered in bright European floral patterns, and embellished with sequins, pearl buttons and purchased braid, the apron was worn over the full skirted Druz dress and siddreye bodice.

The design is a stylized tree of life growing out of a vase, and is similar to patterns seen in Anatolia and some of the Greek islands. German anthropologist Johannes Kalter suggests that this is because the Greek Christians and Qalamoon Christians maintained trade links.