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The presence of the caftan in Algeria dates far back to the
Algerian Women's Waistcoats - The Ghlila and Frimla: Readjusting the Lens on the Early French Colonial Era in Algeria (1830-1870)
(2020). Honors Program Theses. 114. Furthermore this caftan exhibits the most characteristic features of a typical Algerian caftan consisting of gold thread embroidery, decorative passementerie buttons and the triangular evil eye motif all of which are consistent with the caftans from the Bardo National Museum of Algiers. It is also important to note that these caftans feature the distinctive evil eye motif and the looping decorative patterns present in the embroidery on the Algerian Ghlila which the female Algerian caftan is said to have descended from.Isabelle Paresys (26 February 2008). Paraître et apparences en Europe occidentale du Moyen Âge à nos jours. Presses Univ. Septentrion. p. 236. . This embroidery was a symbol of wealth and status in the 17th century.
File:Caftan algerois.jpg, Caftan from the National Museum of Bardo in Algiers exhibiting the distinctive Algerian motifs
In the 16th century Diego de Haëdo described the Algerian caftan as ridiculous due to the elaborate metal thread ornaments rendering the garment expensive. In 1789, the diplomat Venture de Paradis presented an observation of the women of Algiers:
Since then several types of caftans have been developed, while still respecting the original pattern. Nowadays, the Algerian female Kaftans, including the modernised versions, are seen as an essential garment in the bride's trousseau in cities such as Algiers, 
As a result of the French invasion of Algeria many Algerians immigrated to Tetouan and other Moroccan cities where they owned many shops, the shiny costumes worn by the Algerians differed to the simple costumes of the Moroccans. Through the European eye the Moroccan costume was picturesque but simple and differed from the Algerian dress which was rich and sumptuous.Revue des deux mondes
Au bureau de la Revue des deux mondes
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• Ghlila
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Rustamid
The Rustamid dynasty () (or ''Rustumids'', ''Rostemids'') was a ruling house of Ibāḍī imāms of Persian descent centered in Algeria. The dynasty governed as a Muslim theocracy for a century and a half from its capital Tiaret (present day Ta ...
period, the Zirid
The Zirid dynasty ( ar, الزيريون, translit=az-zīriyyūn), Banu Ziri ( ar, بنو زيري, translit=banū zīrī), or the Zirid state ( ar, الدولة الزيرية, translit=ad-dawla az-zīriyya) was a Sanhaja Berber dynasty from ...
period in the 10th century and is also attested during the Zayyanid
The Zayyanid dynasty ( ar, زيانيون, ''Ziyānyūn'') or Abd al-Wadids ( ar, بنو عبد الواد, ''Bānu ʿabd āl-Wād'') was a Berber Zenata dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of Tlemcen, mainly in modern Algeria centered on the town of ...
period. Prior to the Zirid period, during the Rustamid
The Rustamid dynasty () (or ''Rustumids'', ''Rostemids'') was a ruling house of Ibāḍī imāms of Persian descent centered in Algeria. The dynasty governed as a Muslim theocracy for a century and a half from its capital Tiaret (present day Ta ...
period the great value, good reputation and significant influence of the Algerian city Tahert
Tiaret ( ar, تاهرت / تيارت; Berber: Tahert or Tihert, i.e. "Lioness") is a major city in northwestern Algeria that gives its name to the wider farming region of Tiaret Province. Both the town and region lie south-west of the capital ...
which was an important commercial centre attributed it the nickname “Iraq of the Maghreb” as reported by El Yakubi in the 9th century.
The Algerian caftans differ in style and have their own unique motifs, for example in the gallery below the first picture of a caftan although described as “probably being made in Morocco” consists of distinctive motifs on the plastron and an embroidery technique clearly aligning it with the Algerian style.Snoap, Morgan,Algerian Women's Waistcoats - The Ghlila and Frimla: Readjusting the Lens on the Early French Colonial Era in Algeria (1830-1870)
(2020). Honors Program Theses. 114. Furthermore this caftan exhibits the most characteristic features of a typical Algerian caftan consisting of gold thread embroidery, decorative passementerie buttons and the triangular evil eye motif all of which are consistent with the caftans from the Bardo National Museum of Algiers. It is also important to note that these caftans feature the distinctive evil eye motif and the looping decorative patterns present in the embroidery on the Algerian Ghlila which the female Algerian caftan is said to have descended from.Isabelle Paresys (26 February 2008). Paraître et apparences en Europe occidentale du Moyen Âge à nos jours. Presses Univ. Septentrion. p. 236. . This embroidery was a symbol of wealth and status in the 17th century.
Annaba
Annaba ( ar, عنّابة, "Place of the Jujubes"; ber, Aânavaen), formerly known as Bon, Bona and Bône, is a seaport city in the northeastern corner of Algeria, close to the border with Tunisia. Annaba is near the small Seybouse Ri ...
, Bejaia, Blida
Blida ( ar, البليدة; Tamazight: Leblida) is a city in Algeria. It is the capital of Blida Province, and it is located about 45 km south-west of Algiers, the national capital. The name ''Blida'', i.e. ''bulaydah'', is a diminutive ...
, Constantine, Miliana
Miliana ( ar, مليانة) is a commune in Aïn Defla Province in northwestern Algeria. It is the administrative center of the daïra, or district, of the same name. It is approximately southwest of the Algerian capital, Algiers., which cov ...
, Nedroma
Nedroma ( ar, ندرومة) is a city in Tlemcen Province, in northwestern Algeria, about from Tlemcen. Once the capital of Trara, it was built on the ruins of a Berber town by Abd al-Mu'min the Almohad caliph. It has a great Islamic history, ...
and Tlemcen
Tlemcen (; ar, تلمسان, translit=Tilimsān) is the second-largest city in northwestern Algeria after Oran, and capital of the Tlemcen Province. The city has developed leather, carpet, and textile industries, which it exports through the po ...
.
As a result of the French invasion of Algeria many Algerians immigrated to Tetouan and other Moroccan cities where they owned many shops, the shiny costumes worn by the Algerians differed to the simple costumes of the Moroccans. Through the European eye the Moroccan costume was picturesque but simple and differed from the Algerian dress which was rich and sumptuous.Au bureau de la Revue des deux mondes
See also
•Chedda of Tlemcen
The chedda of Tlemcen is a traditional Algerian dress, more precisely of the city of Tlemcen, but also worn in the west of the country, in particular in Oran and Mostaganem. A product of the local craftsmanship, it is worn by brides in Tlemcen fo ...
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Kaftan
A kaftan or caftan (; fa, خفتان, ) is a variant of the robe or tunic. Originating in Asia, it has been worn by a number of cultures around the world for thousands of years. In Russian usage, ''kaftan'' instead refers to a style of men's l ...
• Ghlila
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Djebba Fergani
The Djebba Fergani, or Gandoura is a long velvet dress adorned with elaborate embroidery and it originates from Algeria.Algerian clothing