In the mountainous regions of southwestern Saudi Arabia along the border with Yemen, tribesmen proudly wear outfits symbolizing the verdant mountains where they live and the fighting prowess they use to defend them. .
Curved daggers are must-have accessories, hanging from the middle of their leather belts like sharp buckles. But no warrior outfit is complete without a splash of color: marigolds, daisies and wild basil; flower crowns are the go-to headwear for tribesmen here, showing a flair for fashion. If knives signal tenacity, these crowns are their swagger.
Why we wrote this
Do beauty and bravery go hand in hand? As values they are not opposed, although perhaps incongruous to some. But in the remote southwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, their association takes on its full meaning.
Men of all ages sport full peacock flowers when growing, shopping or attending weddings. And they insist that rather than contradict or clash, bravery and beauty in these mountain villages go hand in hand.
“You must have the flowers,” says a garland seller, Mufleh.
Local historian and heritage expert Gebran Al Maliki says the people decorating their homes and clothing took inspiration from their surroundings. “They were surrounded by greenery, flowers and bright colors, so they incorporated them into their outfits,” he says.
“Weapons and flowers are important parts of everyday life,” he adds.
Al Dayer and Rijal Almaa, Saudi Arabia
In the southwest of Saudi Arabia, menswear is flourishing – literally.
Here, in the mountainous regions of Al Dayer and Asir, along the Saudi-Yemeni border, the tribesmen proudly wear outfits symbolizing the verdant mountains where they have lived for centuries and the fierce fighting prowess that they use to defend them.
Curved janbiya daggers, essential accessories in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, hang from the middle of their leather belts like sharp and deadly belt buckles.
Why we wrote this
Do beauty and bravery go hand in hand? As values they are not opposed, although perhaps incongruous to some. But in the remote southwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, their association takes on its full meaning.
But no warrior outfit is complete without a splash of color.
“You must have the flowers,” said one vendor, Mufleh, who gave only her first name.
Marigolds, daisies and wild basil – flower crowns are the go-to headwear for tribesmen here, showing a flair for fashion and an eye for color. If knives signal tenacity, these crowns are their swagger.
With men of all ages sporting full peacock blossoms when farming, shopping or attending weddings, floral garlands are an integral part of everyday life in these harsh mountain villages where a daisy is just as important as ‘a dagger.
Rather than contradict or clash, they insist that bravery and beauty go hand in hand here.
Although now Instagrammable destinations, many of these remote villages nestled in the Al Dayer and Asir mountains in the Jazan region had long been largely closed due to poor road conditions.
But investment and infrastructure improvements in recent decades have paved the way for a tourism boom, with Saudis discovering both these lush mountains and tribal headgear in the past six years.
Nature as a source of inspiration
Unlike the arid expanse of central and northern Saudi Arabia or the hot, humid Red Sea coast, this mountainous region has a temperate climate, with dry air alternating with misty rains. This allows dozens of varieties of wildflowers to bloom for most of the year, making them available as natural headgear for tribes straddling both sides of the Saudi-Yemeni border for centuries. centuries.
“When people were decorating their homes or dressing up, they looked to their surroundings for inspiration,” says local historian and heritage expert Gebran al Maliki. “They were surrounded by greenery, flowers and bright colors, so they incorporated them into their outfits.”
As they have done for centuries, locals weave different combinations of mugwort, wild basil, rue shrubs, fenugreek and other fragrant plants into a sturdy wreath, then loosely place garlands of vibrant flowers atop .
Those in a hurry place a small bouquet of aromatic herbs and flowers in their shirt pocket like a buttonhole.
But flowers are not an indication of frivolity.
Until the 1960s, young men threw themselves into sometimes deadly public ordeals of pain and strength as a rite of passage. Bravery and honor are paramount; locals still brandish guns and proudly help protect the border region as they have done since the 1930s – even as war rages in Yemen a few miles away.
The intimidating fire of weapons carried by these tribes are on display at Mr. Al Maliki’s Jabal Tallan Cultural Museum in Al Dayer Bani Malik, from spears and daggers to modern rifles.
“Weapons and flowers are important parts of daily life,” he says.
Wearable aromatherapy
But how do flower men in southern Saudi Arabia choose which flowers to wear?
“It all comes down to individual tastes and a person’s sense of style,” says Mr. Al Maliki, pointing to the flowerless wreath of wild basil and rue atop his head.
“Just like people choose a certain outfit in the morning, people here choose the flower color combination that they think best represents them and makes them look great.”
But flower crowns aren’t just about looks. These garlands are prized for the way they make you feel.
“When you put the crown on your head, you feel calm,” says Ibrahim Fathy, a tour guide and historian who welcomes visitors to a traditional stone house overlooking the center of the gingerbread town of Rijal. Almaa to Asir.
Sage, wild basil, fenugreek and other herbs release a soothing scent throughout the day, acting as portable aromatherapy.
“The wreaths give off a pleasant aroma and soothing sensation, relaxing your scalp and uplifting your mood. It’s decorative, but it’s also pleasing to the other senses.
Traditionally, the tribes of Al Dayer and Asir grew flowers and aromatic plants around their homes and farms specifically for their daily wreaths, a system that could not keep pace with the growing demand for headwear. with flowers stimulated by population growth and domestic tourism.
Now, farms an hour’s drive away grow marigolds, chrysanthemums, tulips, rue and other herbs that vendors in the area sell to residents and visitors year-round.
A rush on the crowns
The company has made the roadside flower van in Mufleh, on the outskirts of Al Dayer, the hippest spot in town.
Vans arrive and take off from its place at the side of the road like a burger joint or a drive-thru gas station, shouting their command from the driver’s side window: Add some yellow flowers to my wreath. Give me a string of white.
Hurry up, brother! I have a dinner to attend.
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mufleh receives the morning rush of farmers and commuters starting their day and the late afternoon crowd looking to spruce up before a night out.
“If there’s a wedding or party in town, I’ll have hundreds of orders,” Mufleh says as she delicately threads a chain of marigolds to add to a customer’s crown. “People want to look their best, especially when there are crowds.”
It is a desire that seized visitors.
Many of the thousands of out-of-town Saudis who travel to the misty Asir mountains every weekend to escape the summer heat buy wreaths of yellow and orange flowers from vendors, along with men and women who wear them proudly throughout their stay as they picnic in nature reserves, explore rocky cliff villages, sit in trendy cafes and take evening strolls along the promenade.
The flower crowns sold by Salim and his friends at Jabal Sawda Mountain are so eye-catching that they have launched their own TikTok channel showcasing their flowery products.
“People like to look good, smell something good and wear something that comes from the region,” says Salim.
“After all, who doesn’t love flowers?
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