Jabador
Festive dress of trousers and a matching top, worn in Morocco especially for the festival of breaking the fast.
What it is
According to the newspaper LesEco, the jabador consists of a tunic and matching trousers. The magazine The Moorish Times describes it as a three-piece outfit of trousers (serwal), sleeveless waistcoat (badia) and jacket.
The Maison de l’Artisan names the jabador among the garments made in Morocco by weavers, trimming makers and tailors, alongside the caftan, kmiss, gandoura, djellaba, serwal and selham. In the inventory that Morocco attached to its UNESCO nomination for the caftan, it appears among the regional names of the garments of the caftan family.
History
According to The Moorish Times, trousers and waistcoat were at first worn under the caftan or djellaba; only the addition of a matching jacket turned them into the jabador. In the 20th century it spread further, replaced the caftan at home and, thanks to the first generations of Moroccan designers, also became popular with women.
What it is made of
According to the same source, the jabador is decorated with Moroccan trimmings such as sfifa braid and akad buttons; the fabric today is mostly a fine wool cloth called mlifa.
When
According to The Moorish Times, the jabador is worn at weddings, engagements, naming ceremonies and festivals. For the festival of breaking the fast it is, along with the djellaba, a much sought-after garment. In the days before, it is mainly men who look for jabadors and babouches in the Habous quarter of Casablanca.
At a glance
- Caftan inventory
- named among the garments in the UNESCO file
Where it comes from
At home throughout the country, with no place of origin named by a source.
When you come across it
Goes with it
More from Clothing
Pass it on
As a link, by WhatsApp or email.
Last checked on 27 Oct 2026. 5 sources, 1 of them primary (authority, UNESCO, operator).