Chapan

For the village in Iran, see Chapan, Iran.

Chapan or chopon (Persian: چپان; Kyrgyz: Чапан; Kazakh: Шапан, romanized: Şapan; Uzbek: Чопон, romanized: Chopon) is a coat worn over clothes, usually during the cold winter months. Usually worn by men, these coats are adorned with intricate threading and come in a variety of colors and patterns. It is worn in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. A chapan cape was often worn by former Afghan president Hamid Karzai.

Former President Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan, wearing a chapan and karakul

The etymology of the term is believed to derive either from the Persian chapān, which means 'old', 'threadbare' and 'run-down costume'; or the Chagatai chāpān, itself derived from the Persian jobbe, from the Arabic jubba meaning 'wrapper', 'cloak', 'coat' or 'outer garment'.

See also

• Afghan clothing
• Kaftan
• Żupan
• Adras (fabric)
• Chugurma