What a chador is
A chador is a large piece of fabric, cut roughly as a half circle, that is placed over the head and falls to the ankles. It has no sleeves and no fastenings down the front. The wearer holds it closed by hand, under the chin or at the front, or tucks it under an arm. It is worn over everyday clothing, usually with a headscarf beneath. The garment is commonly associated with Iran, and versions of it are also worn in some other communities.
Practice around the chador varies between people, families, communities and regions. Some wear it every day, some for particular occasions or for prayer, and many people from the same places do not wear it at all. This guide treats it as a garment: its shape, construction, fabric and the words used for it.
Shape and construction
The chador's simplicity is in its cut. Laid flat, it is a half circle or a shape close to one, with the straight edge forming the front opening. The center of the straight edge sits on the crown of the head, and the curved edge forms the hem around the ankles. Because the fabric is cut on a curve, it falls in soft folds without any shaping seams. Most chadors are made from more than one width of fabric joined by seams, because few fabrics are wide enough to cut the full shape in one piece.
| Feature | Chador | Abaya or jilbab | Khimar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic cut | Half circle, open at the front | Robe or coat with seams | Cape with a face opening |
| Sleeves | None | Usually | None |
| How it stays closed | Held by hand or tucked | Snaps, buttons, zip or slip-on | Slip-on, sometimes ties |
| Covers the head | Yes, placed over the head | Not usually; worn with a headscarf | Yes |
| Length | To the ankles | Full length | Chest to knee, by style |
Some modern versions add practical details. An elastic band at the forehead helps the chador stay on the head; inside loops or openings let the wearer keep it closed without holding it the whole time; and a few styles include arm openings. These versions are sometimes sold under different names in different places, so a product page should describe the features rather than rely on the name alone.
How it is put on
The wearer first puts on a headscarf, often a scarf or a sewn hood-style covering. The chador is then placed over the head with the center of the straight edge at the crown, the two front edges falling on either side of the face. The wearer draws the edges together at the front and holds them, or tucks one side under the opposite arm to free a hand. On styles with an elastic band or inside openings, the band holds the chador on the head and the openings take the place of holding it closed.
Fabrics and colors
For outdoor wear, chadors are most often in black or other dark shades, in a light woven fabric with a soft drape. Fabrics commonly used include light polyester crepe, georgette and similar matte wovens, chosen because they are opaque, light enough to wear for long periods and hold the folds of the curved cut. For wear at home or for prayer, lighter colors and small prints are common, often in cotton or cotton-blend fabrics that are breathable and easy to wash.
A chador uses a large amount of fabric. That affects weight, which affects comfort, and it affects drape: a fabric that hangs well in a short scarf may feel heavy across a full-length half circle. When a chador is sampled, wear testing over a few hours tells you more than a quick try-on. The fabric guide compares the light wovens most used for long garments.
Prayer chadors
Some communities use a lighter, often printed chador specifically for prayer at home. It shares the cut of the outdoor chador but is usually in cotton or a soft blend, in light colors or small patterns. Functionally it sits close to the one-piece prayer garment many stores sell, which is a sewn overgarment for salah. If your customers are looking for a garment for prayer, the prayer garment page covers the one- and two-piece sets the desk coordinates.
Related terms
- Chadari. A different garment with a similar-sounding name: the full-length garment with a mesh eye panel commonly associated with Afghanistan, often called a burqa in English. See what is a burqa.
- Abaya. A loose outer robe, usually with sleeves and often fastened at the front, commonly associated with Gulf styles.
- Khimar. A cape-like headcovering that falls over the shoulders and chest, with a face opening.
- Hijab. A headscarf covering the hair and neck, often worn under a chador.
The hijab glossary lists these and many more terms with one-line definitions.
For sellers: naming and describing a chador
If you sell a chador, name it plainly and describe the features, because the word alone covers several variations. A clear title might read black chador, full length, with elastic band and inside hand openings. Then add the details.
- Cut and features. Half-circle cut, with or without forehead band, arm openings or inside loops.
- Length. From crown to hem, in centimeters and inches.
- Fabric. Fiber content as on the label, weight described plainly as light or medium, and opacity.
- Use. Outdoor or prayer style, described as a style rather than a rule.
- Care. As on the care label.
Avoid describing the chador in political terms or as a symbol of anything; describe it as a garment, the same way you would describe a coat. Photograph it on a form or laid flat to show the cut, without faces. If the chador sits in a wider range of prayer garments or long headcoverings, the MOQ and lead time page explains how reference minimums work, confirmed in writing for each program.