Mostly we collect hats on our travels because they are such amazing reflections of different cultures. The strangest, perhaps, is the huge hat from Turkmenistan, called a "telpek." It looks to us like an enormous ball of sheep's wool or even a wig. The Turkmen say it is a "vacuum flask for the head" which protects from overheating in the summer and serves as insulation from cold in the winter. This is hard to believe, as Turkmenistan has a desert climate, and it reaches 140 degrees F in the summer. We are also surprised because the telpeks have all sold to curious customers, and we are trying to find more.
Another popular hat is the "pakul", a soft, round-topped Afghan man's hat, made of wool in neutral colors. The pakul has been worn by the assassinated hero and military leader of the Northern Alliance, Ahmad Shah Masood, as well as warlords and ordinary Afghans. We invite you to visit our collection of 19th century wedding caps from Kyrgyzstan and to marvel at the incredibly fine embroidery, primarily of red silk.
The hats were also decorated with ribbons, buttons and small silver balls, all of which had a protective symbolism. The hats had a long tail, worn over braids of hair, and unfinished tops which were covered by a wrapped turban. During the Soviet era, women were prohibited from wearing their traditional hats, which had been an important symbol of Kyrgyz culture.
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