All reindeer herders of Western Siberia have the same type of men’s outerwear — the malitsa. It is a warm shirt made of two reindeer skins. The malitsa does not have a front opening: it is put on over the head. A hood is sewn to the malitsa, replacing the hat, and has a drawstring to regulate the fit. Mittens are sewn to the sleeves.

The hood is usually sewn in two layers, with fur both outward and inward. Hoods made of dark or black fur are considered particularly beautiful. They are sewn from the hide of a newborn reindeer calf. Some hoods are trimmed with thick white reindeer fur, Arctic fox tail, or beaver fur.

Mittens are sewn to the inside of the sleeves so that they do not get lost while the reindeer sled is moving fast over a rough winter road. This would be equal to getting frostbite. At the wrists, above the palms, there are slits in the malitsa’s sleeves so that the wearer can take the hands out for a short period if necessary.

At the hem, the malitsa is trimmed with the autumn hide of a young deer or the summer hide of an adult deer — such fur has short hairs and is not of very high quality. One or two strips of yellow, red, or green cloth are sewn over the trimming. More elegant malitsas have a mosaic pattern of white and dark fur along the trimming.

Also, since the malitsa is worn in the conditions of strong frosts and winds, it is conveniently wide at the top and has wide armholes. As a result, a man can take his arms out of the sleeves without taking off the shirt and complete some small tasks under the clothes such as filling a pipe, sharpening a knife, or fixing a piece of equipment. The malitsa is worn with a work belt, forming an overlap over the waist, which serves as a kind of pocket and can be used for storing various belongings, such as a pouch of tobacco, a pipe, and other small necessities.

A special shirt made of cloth or other dense fabric is worn over the malitsa to protect it from moisture, dirt, and the sun. Such shirts can have a different color but should be similar in cut to the malitsa — the front and back are sewn from single pieces that flare downward. The front is slightly shorter than the back, and the sleeves with the gussets flare closer to the armholes.