A ROBE by any other name

A ROBE by any other name

For Nomadic tribes especially, the wool robe served as a source of protection against the harsh winters, protecting travelling men, women and children on their journeys across the Steppes. Beyond its survival purposes, the robe also served as a object of distinction, signifying an individual's association with a tribe, religion or political group. Regardless of what these robes were called and their varying purposes, each culture and people had its own version of the robe.
As you flip through the following images depicting variations of robe styles across the Central Asia and the Middle East, consider the following possibilities for similarities in the robes:

encounters (both peaceful and discordant) between peoples and cultures as a source of exchange for textiles, motifs and styles.
similar fashion choices as a reaction to climate and geography.
differences in fashion as a possible indicator of political, religious or cultural alliances.