Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
These days, as Eid Al Fitr approaches, tailors in Abu Dhabi are among the busiest - with orders for traditional clothing piling up and special requests for bespoke garments coming in at the last minute.
The Eid season always creates an overwhelming surge in demand, tailors told Aletihad, as the significant occasion calls for the finest dresses.
"Most customers request traditional clothing, like kanduras for men and abayas and embroidered garments for women. These garments require precision and attention to detail because Eid is a time when people want to show off their new clothes and stand out," Juma Kamal, a tailor specialising in traditional garments in Abu Dhabi, told Aletihad.
The demand, he said, increases dramatically in the final days of the Holy Month of Ramadan as people rush to get their Eid outfits ready. Clothing orders become quite complicated, he added.
"Many clients ask for custom designs with new embroidery or embellishments, which puts additional pressure on us to meet these requests within a short time frame," Juma said.
Deadlines are tight but these tailors must remain meticulous in crafting the dresses for their customers.
Abdul Haq, a tailor specialising in designing the traditional Emirati dress Al Mukhawar, admitted that work becomes more complicated as Eid approaches.
"Clients want unique designs, and usually, orders come in at the last minute, which creates a lot of pressure on the tailors. Additionally, during Ramadan, we are fasting, which makes working during the day harder," Abdul said.
Some of the defining characteristics of traditional Emirati clothing, such as kanduras and abayas, are the intricate detail and embroidery so tailors have to make sure custom-made designs are well-made and truly unique.
Saeed Mohammad, a tailor specialising in men's wear in Abu Dhabi, said: "Many men prefer to have kanduras designed specifically for them, with luxurious fabrics and embroidery, while women want unique designs in their abayas. All these details require time and care to meet customers' expectations."
Many tailors have started using advanced technologies to meet the growing demand. "We sometimes use modern embroidery machines to save time, but hand-crafted details are still in high demand, especially for garments that have a special, personalised touch," said Saeed.
'All efforts are worth it'
Eid may be a challenging time but it is also the most rewarding, tailors said.
"The pressure during Eid season is inevitable, but seeing the happiness on clients' faces when they wear their new clothes makes all the effort worth it," Abdul said.
"Eid is the time when people wear their finest clothes, and we are part of that special moment," he said.
Other tailors share similar feelings, seeing Eid as a celebration of craftsmanship and tradition. The joy of seeing customers wear their new clothes with pride is the greatest reward for their hard work, they said.
With rising expectations from customers year after year, tailors seek to innovate and improve their craft to meet their clients' needs.
"We are looking forward to using new techniques that will help us streamline our work and increase production speed without compromising on quality. These technologies will help us better manage our time and reduce the pressure during the final days of Ramadan," Saeed said.
