The tribal chiefs, mostly big herd owners, wielded a certain degree of political power. In the first half of the 18th century, most of the Kirgiz in Xinjiang believed in Islam. Men wear white round-collared shirts trimmed with lace and covered by a sheepskin jacket or a blue collarless, long cloth gown. Some wear camel wool fabrics with the sleeves in fringed black cloth. Normally, a rawhide belt is worn at the waist, attached to which is a knife and a flint for making fire.
Some sport jackets with a standing collar and front buttons.
They wear loose trousers and high boots. A characteristic Kirgiz shoe is made of rawhide. The inside of the animal skin hat is bordered with black velvet. Kirgiz women wear loose collarless jackets with silver buttons down the front. The long, pleated skirt is bordered with fur.