A Sudanese toub is usually around 4.5 metres long, but the width can vary.
Two common sizes are:
Rabit: approximately 1.15 m wide × 4.5 m long
Kamil: approximately 1.50 m wide × 4.5 m long
The length stays the same, but that extra width makes a noticeable difference when you actually come to wrap the toub.
Rabit vs Kamil: what’s the difference?
The only difference between Rabit and Kamil is the width.
Rabit tends to be popular because it is easier to wrap and there is less excess fabric to manage.
At around 1.15 metres wide, you still have enough fabric to create your wrap around your waist, wazna and jed3a, without feeling like you have too much material to organise.
Kamil, on the other hand, gives you noticeably more fabric and therefore more coverage.
At around 1.5 metres wide, it is often preferred by older women, particularly for modesty, and can also be more comfortable for women who want more room and coverage around the body.
Kamil is also generally easier to find if you are shopping for fabric in markets, simply because 1.5 metres is a very common fabric width.
So, very simply:
Rabit = less fabric, easier to wrap
Kamil = more fabric, more coverage
Neither one is better. It mostly comes down to what you feel comfortable in and how you like your toub to sit.
Which is easier for beginners?
If you are still learning how to wrap a toub, Rabit can feel much easier to work with.
There is less fabric to organise, fold and control, which can make the whole wrapping process feel less intimidating.
You still have enough material for the lower wrap, the wazna and the jed3a, but without as much excess fabric bunching or folding.
This is also why our current Tiyab Mahanna tiyab are made in Rabit sizing: approximately 1.15 m wide × 4.5 m long.
We wanted them to feel easy to wrap while still giving you enough fabric to create the traditional shape and drape of the toub.
Is Kamil too big?
Not at all.
For some women, the extra width is actually the preference.
Kamil can give you more coverage around the body and a fuller amount of fabric to work with. This is one reason it is often preferred by older women or by anyone who simply feels more comfortable with that additional coverage.
It can also work better for women with a larger body size, as the extra width gives you more room to wrap comfortably without feeling restricted.
The trade-off is that there is simply more fabric to manage.
For someone who is new to wearing a toub, that can make wrapping feel slightly more complicated at first.
Why is Kamil easier to find in fabric markets?
If you are buying fabric yourself, you may notice that it is much easier to find something suitable for a Kamil toub.
That is because many fabrics are already manufactured at around 1.50 metres wide.
So if you find a fabric you love in a market, buying 4.5 metres of it at its full width can naturally give you a Kamil-sized toub.
Finding fabric at the narrower Rabit width can sometimes require more searching or fabric that has specifically been produced or cut to that width.
So which size should you choose?
It really depends on how you like to wear your toub.
If you want something that feels lighter, easier to control and easier to wrap, you may prefer Rabit.
If you prefer more coverage, more room around the body or simply feel more comfortable with extra fabric, Kamil may suit you better.
And there is no “correct” choice.
Just like the way someone creates their wazna or throws their jed3a, the amount of fabric someone prefers is personal too.
What size are Tiyab Mahanna tiyab?
Our current Tiyab Mahanna collection is made in Rabit sizing: approximately 1.15 m wide × 4.5 m long.
We chose Rabit because we wanted our tiyab to feel approachable and easy to wrap, particularly for anyone who did not grow up wearing the toub regularly or is only just starting to learn.
Less fabric to fight with, basically 😭
Once you get used to wrapping a toub, you will quickly work out how much fabric you personally like and whether you prefer the feel of Rabit or Kamil.
And if you are currently looking at 4.5 metres of fabric wondering where on earth to start, our Beginner’s Guide to Wrapping a Toub is probably your next stop.
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