A loose-fitting, hooded robe with long sleeves, worn traditionally in North Africa and parts of the Middle East, typically by both men and women.
From Arabic 'jilbāb' (جلباب), a word of uncertain ultimate origin but possibly influenced by Berber or other North African languages. The spelling 'djellaba' with 'dj' and double-'l' reflects French colonial conventions used in Maghrebi regions.
The djellaba is one of the most practical garments for desert climate—it protects from intense sun and sand while allowing air circulation—and you see it across North Africa and the Middle East because it's genuinely well-designed for the environment, not just a cultural accident!
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