Traditional abayat are black, and may be either a large square of fabric draped from the shoulders or head, or a long caftan. The abaya covers the whole body except the face, feet, and hands. It can be worn with the niqab, a face veil covering all but the eyes. Some women choose to wear long black gloves, so their hands are covered as well.
Saudi Arabia requires women to cover in public. Covering is enforced by the religious police, the mutaween (also known as the 'mutawa'). In Iran the cover is often referred to as a chador. Some Muslim women living in the West also cover themselves as part of their religion and culture. Due to the difficulty of finding stores nearby, Muslim women in the United States usually buy Islamic clothing online.citation needed
Abayat are known by various names but serve the same purpose, which is to cover up. Contemporary models are usually caftans, cut from light, flowing fabrics like crape, georgette, and chiffon. Styles differ from region to region: some abayat have embroidery on black material while others are brightly coloured and have different forms of artwork across them.1
