Traditional outfit, the national Mongolian costume. Men's robe made of heavier grey polyester and lined with green plaid cotton (or cotton/polyester blend). Outer color is gray and inside is blue-green checked. Black leather cording along the collar and edges. Near the neck are two metal buttons, three more at the shoulder, and two along the side. The buttons are embossed with a clover design. Stand-up "mandarin" style collar. Made by A. Bayasgalan of Uus Aimag, Mongolia. The man's deel is wider than the woman's so that it can be comfortably worn on horseback. All deels can be used as covering for nights spent on the open steppe and it can hold all the things a person needs in his or her daily activities. The bottom edge should hit at the ankle once the sash is secured. The long sleeves are to keep the hands warm. Only older people wear deels in the city, whereas they seem to be much more common among men in general in the countryside (Video Footage, Tape 4, 7/10/02).
