Traditional Costumes of Al Ashraaf Women Tribes in Al-Laith Governorate in Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region

Abstract

The research aimed to document and study the traditional costumes and head coverings of Al Ashraaf women tribes within the borders of Al-Laith Governorate in the Makkah Al-Mukarramah region. Additionally, it sought to identify the techniques and methods used in creating and embroidering these traditional costumes and head coverings. The research employed the oral history methodology, a qualitative method of scientific documentation. This approach involved conducting qualitative interviews with eyewitnesses from the tribe who lived in the past, witnessed its events closely, and wore and created traditional costumes. These interviews were a fundamental step in data collection, complemented by the collection and documentation of physical samples of costumes and traditional headdresses. Through field visits to Al-Laith Governorate and its villages and by conducting extensive and repeated interviews with eyewitnesses, the research successfully documented and identified the traditional costumes and head coverings of Al Ashraaf women, namely Althobe, Al mesfaa, and Almaswan. The study provided detailed explanations of the methods used in their creation, including sewing techniques and decorative methods such as hand embroidery with silk threads, weaving, and fringing threads. It also explored the occasions on which these costumes are worn and the types of fabrics used in their manufacture. The results underscored the importance of documenting the traditional costumes of other tribes in Al-Laith Governorate and beyond, which have not yet been studied scientifically. It is crucial to preserve these traditions before they are lost or influenced by cultural renewal, rapid economic growth, and global openness. The research also recommends establishing a museum in Al-Laith Governorate to house the traditional heritage of the region's people, which will help preserve and safeguard it for future generations.