JEDDAH — A large number of young Saudis are now starting small enterprises in the field of dressmaking and fashion designing. This has been obvious at the Youth Exhibition held in Jeddah. Two entire sections of the exhibition hall have a number of booths for young Saudis who decided to start up businesses in abayas and thobes. In the female section the black was not the only option, as abayas in grey, blue, purple and even pink and off-white were evident in the new designs. In the men's section, besides white thobes also came in baby blue, brown and black. Maryam, a young Saudi student, said she started with her sister, the business of selling abayas of different colors and designs. “The idea of designing abayas started years back, as women preferred always to have abayas for different occasions. For example, we need an abaya for work, another for shopping and a third for special occasions and weddings. The material of the abaya differs according to the occasion where a woman will use the clothing,” said Maryam. Waleed Al-Amri, who imports dress materials, said the dominant color for abayas remained black. Demand for colored materials for making abayas is very low and limited to a few adventurous females, many of whom had studied abroad. The main challenge that prevents young Saudis from going into the sewing business is the presence of expatriate workers, said Mohammad Al-Shihri, the head of the textiles committee at the JCCI. According to him, foreigners, especially those living illegally in the Kingdom, have dominated this market and are making it challenging and impossible for young Saudis to invest and succeed in this business. Al-Shihri said they have completed a study that addressed the absence of youth in this market and the challenges that face them. The study has already been submitted to concerned government bodies for further action. A committee will be formed to monitor this sector and will be doing field tours to inspect illegal businesses. According to Al-Amri, importers of abaya material face a number of difficulties, especially at the port. “They want all materials to be of high quality. While we buy high quality materials some consumers are actually looking for low prices and we need to provide that as well, but the customs process delays us from receiving our goods,” explained Al-Amari.
