Islamicate Textiles: Fashion, Fabric, and Ritual

Islamicate Textiles explores the role of textiles and clothing in Islamic culture, tracing their history from Central Asia to Tanzania and discussing their cultural, religious, and political significance. It also examines the relationship between textiles and gender identity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 04 May 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Islamic culture is intricately woven with textiles and clothing, offering a captivating journey through Central Asia, Tanzania, and beyond. In Islamicate Textiles, readers embark on a thematic exploration of the profound roles that textiles play within Muslim-majority communities. This meticulously curated book sheds light on the rich traditions, rituals, and religious practices of these regions, revealing how materials and clothing are seamlessly integrated into daily life. Through captivating examples such as Iranian lion carpets and Arabic keffiyeh, Faegheh Shirazi presents these textiles and totemic items as vital cultural signifiers that, together, form a dynamic and captivating material culture. This culture, akin to a living language, evolves, adapts, and thrives to meet the needs of new generations and communities across the globe.

Moreover, the book delves into the political significance of Islamicate textiles, unveiling the complex relationship between the East and European countries that have engaged in the acquisition and repurposing of these goods. Shirazi's writing uncovers the historical and contemporary connections between textiles, colonialism, immigration, and economics, shedding light on the intricate web of factors that have shaped the global textile trade.

In addition to its cultural and political dimensions, Islamicate Textiles also explores the intimate connection between textiles and gender identity. Shirazi delves into the ways in which clothing and textiles are used to express and reinforce gender norms, as well as the ways in which they can challenge and subvert these norms. Through her insightful analysis, she highlights the role that textiles and clothing play in shaping sexual orientation and gender expression, and how they contribute to the construction of gender identities.

Islamicate Textiles is a groundbreaking work that offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the role of textiles and clothing in Islamic culture. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history, culture, and politics of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, as well as for those who are passionate about textiles and clothing as cultural artifacts. By exploring the rich tapestry of Islamicate textiles, this book provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex and multifaceted world of material culture.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350291232