The aqaad

The Art of Aqaads

Small buttons, great craftsmanship.

Aqaads are the small buttons that fasten the kaftan along its entire length. They are shaped one by one, by hand, using the same thread chosen for the sfifa — this is what gives the kaftan its unity: the braid and the buttons speak the same language.

The technique takes just three fingers. The thread is wrapped, knotted, and tightened around itself until it forms a small, dense, regular sphere, always the same — yet never quite identical, since it comes from a hand rather than a machine. A kaftan may have hundreds of them. Each one requires the same care as the first.

There are several types of aqaad designs, varying in size and featuring different patterns.

This is work that cannot be rushed. It requires dexterity, a great deal of patience, and the consistency that only years of practice can provide. A poorly tightened aqaad will lose its shape the first time it is worn; when properly made, it remains secure through every ceremony.

How can you recognize them? Run your finger over one. A handmade aqaad is firm, dense, and slightly irregular to the touch — alive. And it is made from the same thread as the sfifa: on a bespoke kaftan, nothing is mismatched.

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