Clothing

People in contemporary Libya wear a variety of clothing. The majority of Libyans who live in metropolitan areas dress in Western clothes, with boys and girls both donning shirts and pants or jeans. More traditional attire is preferred by certain Libyans, especially for formal events. In Libyan culture, at certain events like Friday prayers or weddings, some Libyans in their older generations like to dress in traditional attire.

Although traditional attire for males varies slightly from place to region in Libya, it is generally the same. The traditional clothing for males in Libya consists of a long tunic, called a "jalabiya," long pants, called "sirwal," and a vest, called a "sadriya," which is frequently embroidered with black silk and secured at the front with buttons. A flowy blouse with beaded and silver/gold yarn embroidery on the sleeves is a staple of traditional women's clothing, as are loose silk pants with an ankle gathering. Traditionally, Libyan women have also worn vividly colored material sewn into dresses like togas. These dresses are held together by silver brooches. Rural women have historically worn thick, woven costumes akin to rugs as outerwear due to the temperature. A colorful cloth with bright pom-poms is used to cover the head.