Apparel Online India Issue 1-15 March '18 | Page 31

FASHION BUSINESS
F R O M L I B E R AT I O N
TO LUXURY
Fashion finds its Mecca in the Middle East
I
n a recent ‘Thomson Reuters State
of the Global Islamic Economy
Report’, Muslim consumers spending
on apparel topped US $ 243 billion
in 2015, with an expected increase
to over US $ 368 billion by 2021. Also
significant is the findings of the Pew
Research Center, according to which
Muslims are the fastest growing
religious group in the world, estimated
to increase the population of designers
by 70 per cent in the next 40 years.
As a result, brands are increasingly
recognizing the huge scale of
opportunity that could stem from
better connecting with such a
prosperous consumer segment. But
as is the case, while studying any
other country or region – nationality,
age, economic structure, culture
and educational levels – all play an
essential role in understanding how
this market behaves.
Age and location make a big
difference when it comes to clothing
in the Middle East, the largest region
of concentration for the Muslim
community. The way a certain set
of people dress reveal not only their
personality, but also the region and
social class they belong to. Today,
in the Middle East, local traditions
and Western fashion mix together
to pave way for a new market which
designers and brands are now eyeing
with interest.
When comparing the variables of
age, economic class, and education,
not all Muslim consumers have the
same spending habits or fashion
preferences. Millennials and
Gen Z consumers in the region are
increasingly tilting more towards
westernized clothing concepts,
reserving more traditional styles
for ceremonial and religious
occasions, while the older generations
continue to be embracing more of
traditional garments.
TODAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
LOCAL TRADITIONS AND
WESTERN FASHION MIX
TOGETHER TO PAVE WAY FOR
A NEW MARKET.
www.apparelresources.com | MARCH 1-15, 2018 | Apparel Online India
31