Kuwait · Textile / Weaving / Garment Making
Bisht (also mishlah or 'aba' in some dialects, men's cloak); Hayek (the weaver, a specific craft role); Mokhayet (the tailor, a specific, distinct craft role); Gelded Zari (gilded metal-thread tassels)
The weaving and tailoring of the bisht, a traditional men's cloak worn across the Arab world, in continuing high demand across Kuwaiti society and the wider Gulf. Production divides into two specialized roles: the hayek, traditionally a woman, weaves the fabric on a pit-floor hand loom over one to four days; the mokhayet then tailors the garment, typically requiring one to four tailors depending on quality. Bishts are woven from sheep or camel wool, with thickness varying by season — heavy and coarse for winter, light and soft for summer — and wealthier examples are finished with gilded metal-thread tassels at the chest. Some sources date the bisht's introduction to as early as 2300 BCE; the craft's skills and practices are jointly recognized across nine Arab countries, including Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the UAE.
Risk level: Endangered · The bisht's 'skills and practices' are documented as jointly recognized across nine countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates
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