Tailors, textile shops thrive as demand soars for Eid
MUSCAT, MAR 29
Tailors, textile shops, and ready-made garment stores were bustling with customers on Saturday as people scrambled to find the perfect attire ahead of Eid al Fitr.
Dressing in new and elegant outfits is an essential part of Eid celebrations, and the demand for fresh, fragrant, and finely stitched garments has surged. Traditional Omani attire, particularly the Dishdasha, is at the heart of these preparations, keeping tailors across Muscat busier than ever.
The Omani Kandura, also known as Thawb, Thobe, or Dishdasha, is an ankle-length tunic worn by Omani men. Rashid Ahmed, a Kashmiri Musar (Omani turban) seller at OK Center, noted that skilled expatriate tailors in Seeb Souq, Muttrah Souq, and OK Center in Ruwi have been working tirelessly for weeks to meet the rising demand.
'These tailors, whether providing full packages (cloth plus tailoring) or just tailoring services, are facing diverse requests. Learning is a constant process in this trade,' he said.
"We receive young customers daily with unique preferences — some want different colours, others prefer specific styles, materials, or intricate decorative details," Ahmed added.
Under normal circumstances, a tailor typically completes one Kandura per day. However, during the Eid rush, many are tasked with stitching two or more daily, making quality control a challenge.
"This is not our routine practice. Maintaining quality under such pressure is difficult, and if the standards drop, you risk losing business permanently," one tailor explained, emphasizing Omanis' keen attention to craftsmanship.
To preserve traditional Omani attire, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) has enforced strict regulations. Ministerial Decree No (270/2015) prohibits unauthorised alterations to the Kandura, including cutting, sewing, printing slogans or foreign trademarks, or making modifications that go against cultural traditions.
The ministry conducts annual inspections to ensure compliance, underscoring the importance of preserving Omani heritage through its distinctive traditional dress.
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