Stitch in time for happy holiday

Tailors across the UAE will breathe a sigh of relief as they finish styling and sewing new clothes for those getting ready to celebrate the present while looking backwards with fond memories of days gone by.

While this year has been quieter than others, Eid is still one of the busiest times of the year for tailor Amjad Iqbal. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

FUJAIRAH // As people across the country celebrate Eid Al Adha, the break will be especially welcomed by those working in one industry sector in particular – the clothes-making sector.

From abayas to jalabiyas, the demand for new items has kept the country’s tailors busy for the two months leading up to Eid.

“We started to receive orders for designing abayas and jalabiyas two months before the Eid celebrations and, sometimes, we try to cover last-minute orders, but not all the time,” said Amjad Iqbal, a 40-year-old Pakistani working at Al Baydaa Tailor, in Fujairah.

The overall trend though, was a slowdown in Eid business Mr Iqbal said, with people’s preferences having shifted from handmade to ready-made items.

“We prepared 130 abayas and 40 jalabiyas this month but we used to do more,” he said.

“In the past, we would make about 300 to 400 pieces before Eid. Now most of the residents rely on buying ready-made abayas, which are available in other markets. That has affected our business.”

While ready-to-wear has increased in popularity, for some, nothing will ever beat clothes made by a tailor.

“The tailor takes the exact measurements and designs it according to my instructions,” said Rashed Al Shahi, a 28-year-old Emirati.

“That’s why I like to order my Eid kandura in advance.”

Mohammad Asif, a Pakistani tailor who has worked at Al Sharq tailors for the past two decades, spent the months preceding Eid making kanduras.

He believes the emirate’s many tailors will survive the ready-to-wear trend because of their individuality.

“There are many shops here, but not all of us use the same fabric,” he said.

“That’s why each shop has its own style and material that makes it unique.

“We designed about 150 kanduras for this Eid, according to customers’ demands.

“Usually we do 30 to 40 kanduras each month but Eid is the busiest time of the year.”

For the customers, receiving new clothes is a welcome Eid tradition that stirs fond memories of the past and provides an opportunity to make those special moments for the next generation.

“When I was young, my parents used to buy us new clothes each Eid,” said Moza Sultan, a 25-year-old Emirati who lives in Fujairah.

“We start looking for new designs and styles while my mother goes to the tailor to pick and design new abayas for her and my grandmother.

“It’s something we like a lot and it gives you a feeling of a new beginning as you watch everyone wearing their new tidy clothes,” Ms Sultan said.

While the family does buy ready-made garments, said Ms Sultan, they had not forgotten their local tailors.

“I pick the design and the fabric and sometimes I add my own touch and the tailor does the rest of the work,” said Ms Sultan of her Eid abayas and jalabiyas.

“But I need to place my order three weeks in advance to receive it before Eid,” she said.

Salwa Mahmoud, a 35-year-old Egyptian expatriate and mother of three, said fitting out the family with new clothes for Eid was a custom she very much enjoyed sharing with her children. “This is a very important part of the traditions and, like our parents used to do for us, we try to do the same with our kids.

“My five year-old girl places her cloth under her pillow each Eid as a sign of happiness, although we buy for them almost each month.

“But, still, the Eid outfit stays special and means a lot to all of us.”

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