JEDDAH, 4 December 2002 — Retailers of thoub, the long white garment traditionally worn by male Saudis, say sales are high this year compared to last year. Only a few days prior to the beginning of Eid, some tailors have increased prices, seemingly on the assumption that consumers would be forced to buy their products before the start of Eid.
Confirming the unjustified price hike, Hani Al-Ali, a customer, said: “Around a month ago, I visited one of the famous thoub shops along Crown Prince Street and ordered a thoub for SR250. Ten days later, when I decided to order another from the same shop, I was told to pay SR380 because the prices have gone up.”
“The price hike is maddening,” he added in frustration.
Naif Al-Inazi, who paid SR550 for a thoub, complained that the tailors deliberately raise prices because of big demand.
“They know people want to look their best for the festive occasion, so they go ahead increasing prices,” Inazi said.
Speaking about high prices of thoubs this year, Tariq Al-Amoudi, the owner of a tailoring shop in Al-Bawadi souq, where there was a mad rush of Eid shoppers, told Arab News that prices of thoubs “vary , but this year there are more variety in the market than last year, hence the difference in prices.”
He pointed out that the sales of thoubs increased dramatically this year, and most tailors are working overtime to meet demand. “Well, our sales have gone up 90 percent, compared to last year. Most other tailors are also doing brisk business,” Al-Amoud said, and cited the entry of more fashionable varieties this year as the cause of high demand.
Meanwhile, a stroll down shopping areas in the city revealed that tailors are refusing to take new orders because of the big rush. “Due to high demand, unfortunately we had to turn down many orders since the middle of Ramadan. It’s been so busy a season for us that we’re working hard to fulfill our commitment to our customers on time,” said Abdul Malik Abdullah, a tailor at Al-Aseel thoub shop.
“We had to work overtime and hire more tailors to meet customers’ deadline. This explains why some tailors have increased their prices,” he said.
The rush of customers lining up to place orders can be seen on every street where thoub shops are located.
According to a designer, 30 million thoubs are sold in the Kingdom every year.
