Question

What type of dress do the natives wear in the Sahara Desert, and why?

Answer 1

In the Sahara, local nomadic groups (for example, Bedouin and Tuareg people) traditionally wear long, loose, flowing robes and wrapped head-coverings or veils, often light-coloured and made of breathable fabric, which cover most of the body and include turbans or face veils to protect the head and face. These garments shield skin from the sun and reduce direct heat load, keep sand out of eyes and mouth during winds, allow airflow that helps evaporative cooling in daytime, and also trap a layer of air for insulation against the cold nights; in short, the style and materials are practical adaptations to the extreme heat, intense sun, wind and large diurnal temperature swings of the desert.