Habit of a Merchant of Arabia in 1568

by Thomas Jefferys

In this print taken in 1568 by the famous geographer and engraver Thomas Jefferys, one can view the fashion of a merchant from Arabia in an era when there was great influence on him by the Ottomans.

His posture depicts great elegance, wearing all the layers of clothes required by the desert environment. On top of a kaftan well-tailored out of either silk or fine wool cloth, he is dressed in an aba (overcoat) which is very heavy yet very flowing, reflecting his high standards and wealth. The part that stands out most about his outfit is his carefully done turban.

The print is valued highly because of the detailed work on display, ranging from the form of his footwear to the quality of the fabrics he wears.