Meet the Assyrian Garment Maker who Dressed Aghas and Chiefs
Pictured: Dawīd Mōshy Shemʿōn Awrāhām dressed in one of his unique hand-crafted Assyrian traditional garments. Traditionally, Indigenous Assyrian Elders are not to wear the feathered cap and the styled scarf. Mōshy, however, kindly agreed to wear the entire ensemble to demonstrate how the garment would have appeared when worn altogether.
Traditional folk garments play an important role among Indigenous Assyrian communities, both in their Traditional Homelands as well as the Assyrian Diaspora. Assyrian traditional clothes are a means of expressing cultural values and beliefs, and traditional attire continues to be an important symbol of Assyrian cultural heritage. Being Indigenous myself, I was curious to learn about the stories of those who have helped preserve this exquisite legacy, this is how I came to meet Dawīd Mōshē Shemʿōn Awrāhām.
Among his loved ones, Mōshy is commonly known as Mamī Dawīd “Uncle David”. He was born in 1930 in the village of Chalik (modern-day Duhok Governorate, Northern Iraq) and now resides in Sydney, Australia. Mōshy belongs to the Gērīsnāyē tribe of Gērāmōn (modern-day Uludere, Şırnak, Türkiye) who were famously renowned for their garment-making.
Following the upheavals of the late nineteenth- and early-twentieth century, textile crafts— particularly among Indigenous Assyrians —were severely crippled and became an endangered tradition. Mōshy, like his forefathers before him, began his journey in garment-making at a young age. He was trained by his father in the production of textile fabrics, colouring, sewing, and embroidery work.
"When I was 16, my older brother, who was supporting my father in the business, joined the military, so I had to take over and learn the skill from my father," says Mōshy.
He continues, "I initially handcrafted a set of white traditional Ḵōmālā that was sewed with intricate Assyrian motifs and designs, which stunned my friends and everyone else who saw it.”
Mōshy credits his father for providing him an in-depth insight about the garment-making process. This knowledge was a product of intergenerational transmission, passed down from Mōshy's forefathers.
Among Mōshy’s impressive clientele were Assyrian tribesmen and chiefs as well as Kurdish Aghas and Yezidi leaders. Mōshy, like his father, played an instrumental role in not only maintaining this endangered tradition but whose work was appreciated by Assyrians and non-Assyrians alike. The contributions made by Mōshy and his family are invaluable and are a true inspiration.
“We were the tailors for many Assyrian families that played an important role within our nation, along with their families, such as, the Mār Shemʿōn patriarchal family, Malik Ismāīl, Ḵeyō, and Lazar Ashtnāyā’s families.”
From a young age, Mōshy understood the significance of garment-making, particularly in the role they played for cultural preservation. During the interview, Mōshy noted: “Since these garments both distinguish us as Assyrians and provide a glimpse into what our forefathers used to wear, I consider it a great honour to have contributed to their preservation and maintenance.”
Pictured: Mōshy and his daughter Zardēh, holding a spindle.
Today, as more and more Assyrians form larger Diaspora communities, the traditional method of garment-making using natural resources has declined exponentially and is on the brink of extinction. Without interest from younger generations as well as adequate documentation efforts, authentic traditional garment-making among Indigenous Assyrians will be but a distant memory only available to us from black/white archival photos.
Note: The author of this article, as well as the ACSYA Inc., would like to thank His Grace, Mār Benyamin Elyā, Bishop of Victoria and New Zealand of the Assyrian Church of the East, for arranging the interview. It should be highlighted that; His Grace is one of the 40 grandchildren of Dawīd Mōshy Shemʿōn Awrāhām.
