#tetouan

Moroccan Kaftan Ceremonial kaftan from Tetouan made from locally produced silk brocade. The stylized pattern stitched together symmetrically and further embellished with metallic ribbon and metallic embroidery. Lined with fine cotton.

via Sarajo.com

Moroccan Red Kaftan The kaftan began as a garment for wealthy and powerful men, and started being worn by women in the 17th century. This kaftan is from Tetouan, Morocco and was made in the late 19th-early 20th century. The designs would often be drawn on by men, and then embroidered by women, and the metallic thread technique is called “squalli.” The craft originated in the Jewish quarter of Tetouan and was traditionally Jewish work. The detailed embroidery and color implies that this is a garment that would be worn by someone for special ceremony, and since it is wool it would be worn in colder weather. The round shapes on the bottom of the front embroidery act as protection from the evil eye, with a blue silk underneath. This kaftan is made out of red wool, with metal-wrapped thread couched embroidery creating abstract swirling designs, metallic ribbon, and metallic and black silk thread outlining it. There is also a light blue brocade fabric inside the bottom ovals, and silk edging on the inside of the kaftan.

via Sarajo.com

A woman's garment, rectangular in shape, widening slightly towards the top and open at the front with long, wide sleeves. Braided conical buttons fasten the garment at the top.

The word 'kaftan' was originally Persian and was adopted by the Ottomans to describe their emperor's dress. It would have been introduced in Morocco by the Sa'did king 'Abd al-Malik (r. AH 984–6 / AD 1576–8), who had lived in Algiers and Istanbul and would have borrowed the word from the Turks. Adopted firstly by the dignitaries and women of the palace, kaftans became fashionable among the middle classes from the late AH 10th / AD 17th century, if the accounts of European travellers are to be believed. Each of the large towns had a particular variation of this type of costume, which would have been covered with a light tunic. Its shape and decoration tell us that this kaftan is from Tetouan. It would not have been hidden under a tunic and would have been worn above a bolero made in the same way and in the same material. Embroidered with gold thread, gold braids and frogging, its arborescent decoration is reminiscent of the designs on the dresses and boleros of Ottoman women in Algeria.

Credits: Naima El Khatib-Boujibar "Kaftan" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.

A good embroidered velvet kaftan, Tétouan, Moroccan, North African, circa 1900

of dark brown cotton velvet, the shoulder and chest adorned with couched silver threads on green, coral and blue shaped grounds, further embellished with gold braid, silver thread covered toggle fasteners, lined in white cotton printed in blue with the Palace of Westminster, and 'Pure 1000' in red and blue, neck to rear hem, 135cm, 53in

The Museum of the Udayas, Rabat, Morocco, holds a similar example within their collection (accession no. 5432 / D3922). This type of kaftan was produced only in Tetouan and was worn only by middle-class women in the north of Morocco. This style of kaftan is believed to have stopped being worn into the early 20th century. An early 20th-century photograph of a Moroccan woman in 'Grand Costume' wearing a similar style kaftan is pictured in 'Morocco: Jews and Art in a Muslim Land', The Jewish Museum New York, p. 167.

Via Kerry Taylor Auctions.

Les services du Centre hospitalier régional des spécialités de Tétouan ont été officiellement lancés vendredi, marquant une étape importante dans le renforcement de l’offre de soins au niveau régional. La mise en service de cet établissement de santé a été donnée par le ministre de la Santé et de la Protection Sociale, Amine Tehraoui, en présence du Wali de la région Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima,…