Arkhalig

An arkhalig ( _az. arxalıq "what goes on the back"; _ka. არხალუხი, _hy. արխալուղ, _fa. ارخالق) is part of both male and female traditional dress of the peoples of the Caucasus and Iran. The arkhalig originated from the "beshmet", a Turkic outer clothing later worn by Cossacks. [ [http://www.yuga.ru/kazaki/history/index.shtml?id=4404 Guides to studying "The Cossack Military Vocabulary"] by S.Ivanov]

An arkhalig is a long tight-waist jacket made of various kinds of fabric, such as silk, satin, cloth, cashmere and velvet, traditionally depending on the social status of its owner. [ [http://traditions.aznet.org/traditions/az/azclothes.htm Traditional Azeri dress] . "Traditions.aznet.org"] Male arkhaligs can be both single-breasted (done up with buttonhooks) and double-breasted (done up with buttons). In cold weather, a chokha is put on above an arkhalig. [ [http://www.azeri.ru/AZ/cultur/national_costume/nc.htm Traditional Azeri costume] by Ekaterina Kostikova. "Националь". 11 July 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2007] Female arkhaligs are often ornamented and have tight long sleeves widening on the wrists. A female arkhalig can also include a fur list along the edges, patterned laces and braids, or be decorated with gold embroidery. [ [http://www.azerizv.az/article.php?id=7238 Silks That Amazed Herodotus] by Saadat Huseynova. "Azerbaijanskie Izvestia". Retrieved 23 June 2007]

Arkhaligs were in wide use until the 1920s.

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