FASHION BUSINESS
The Islamic population is experimenting with westernized fashion concepts Multi-brand retailer BASICS ' store in Jeddah
IT IS A STEREOTYPE THAT ALL MUSLIM WOMEN WEAR A HIJAB.
WITH A BOOST IN AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, MANY FAMILIES ARE EMBRACING UNCONVENTIONALITY.
International designers are expanding into the modest wear segment
Within the region itself, from Morocco to Oman, the concepts of modest dressing and traditional garments change from one country to another and the clothing is also hugely dictated by the climatic conditions prevalent in that area. Many women in Lebanon do not cover their head, but majority of women in Saudi Arabia still have to wear a niqab. People living in the cities are more attentive to the latest fashion trends, while those in smaller towns and rural areas are still conservative, following traditional norms.
It is also a stereotype that all Arab women wear hijab. With increased awareness, emphasis on education and the blurring boundaries between cultures owing to easier travel, many Muslim families are embracing unconventionality. Recently, Sheikh Abdullah al- Mutlaq, who is a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, and also a senior member of the top Muslim clerical body in Saudi Arabia, stated that women need not wear the loose-fitting, full-length robes symbolic of the Muslim faith known as the abaya.
Some Muslim countries have followed Western footsteps in terms of fashion, namely Lebanon, Dubai, Jerusalem and Jordan. In Lebanon, women have little in common with the fashion preferences of Muslim
populations based in Saudi Arabia and UAE. The mindset is very open to experimentation and westernized fashion concepts. Women prefer more revealing clothing with shorter hemlines and longer necklines. In countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Yemen, the emphasis is more on the traditional dress.
The younger cohort( people under the age of 30) in the UAE, Saudi or Qatar makes up more than half of their entire population. There are some 350 million people in these countries who are still below 26. While a bigger purchasing power unquestionably lies with the older generation and indulgence in shopping is a common thread throughout.
On the luxury side of the UAE market, with the country boasting of a wealthy consumer base in terms of GDP per capita, and where Dubai and Abu Dhabi alone touch US $ 43,605 and US $ 71,580 respectively, the opportunities are huge.
Mainstream international brands have started to expand their clothing lines into the Modest Fashion segment, launching across the Middle East and also stocking Modest Fashion products in western markets. Brands such
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