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Kimeshek

Kazakh women wearing kimeshek
Type	Hat
Place of origin	Kazakhstan, Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan), and Kyrgyzstan

Kimeshek (Kazakh: кимешек, Karakalpak: кимешек) or Elechek (Kyrgyz: элечек) is a traditional headgear of married women with children in Kazakhstan, Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) and Kyrgyzstan. Kimeshek is also worn by Central Asian Jewish women. Uzbek and Tajik women wear a similar headdress called lachak. Kimeshek is made of white cloth, and the edge is full of patterns. Kimeshek might have different designs and colors based on the wearer's social status, age, and family.

In Karakalpakstan, there are two different types of kimeshek, alike in Kazakhstan, only married women wear kimeshek. A red kimeshek, or qızıl kiymeshek, was worn by a younger married woman. A girl preparing for marriage would make the kimeshek herself. As the woman grew older, she would instead wear a white aq kiymeshek. However, she would keep the red kimeshek. The kimeshek was considered very important; it was taboo to give one away.

Gallery

References

1. ^ Tursun Gabitov; Dinara Zhanabaeva. "Place of National Women's Clothing Fashion Designs in the Formation of Kazakhstan's Image" (PDF). Al-Farabi Kazakh National University: 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-05-20. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. Susan Meller (2018). Silk and Cotton: Textiles from the Central Asia that Was. ABRAMS. ISBN 9781683355571. Some Jewish, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Tajik women wore a wimple-like white headdress called a kimeshek (Kazakh, Kyrgyz) or lachak (Uzbek, Tajik).
3. Marinika Babanazarova (2010). "Textiles of Qaraqalpaqstan and Their Relationship to Central Asian Traditions and the Legacy of Igor Stravinsky". Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings. 7. Textile Society of America: 5.

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