The general view that tailored traditional Saudi men's clothing is no longer in demand has been proven wrong by the success of several established and new designers in the domestic market.

Despite the challenges posed by shifting tastes in the region, various designers are popular these days including Siraj Sanad, Yahya Al-Bishri, Ahmed Al-Badawi, Yaslam Bin Ladin, Abdullah Bishr and Saud Al-Harithy. Zaki bin Aboud, a designer of women’s clothing, is also in demand.

“Young people are becoming increasingly fascinated with locally designed clothes,” Al-Badawi said recently. He said business appears to be good for the 20,000 tailor and design shops in the Kingdom.

He said several Saudi companies are now competing to make elegant traditional dress to suit the tastes of a diverse range of customers.

Local designers have also introduced various innovations for traditional men’s clothes with embroidery and new shapes, he said. He said new style traditional Saudi men's clothing costs between SR150 and SR700.

Tailors and dress designers do a roaring business during Eid festivals, particularly Eid Al-Fitr, holidays and when schools open.

Rashid Al-Fowzan, executive president of Fawzan and Company, said Saudi designers must try to patent their designs because there are many unscrupulous people copying their creations.

Ahmed Al-Oqaili, a trader in men's wear for the past 12 years, said many international brands have entered the Kingdom’s market making traditional men's clothing and headgear.

The ready-made clothing market in the Kingdom was an estimated SR1 billion last year, registering 39 percent growth from the previous year. Women's clothing makes up 54 percent of the market, with the share of children's clothing 15 percent.

The report also showed that 40 percent of the ready-made clothes business is in Riyadh, followed by Jeddah with 30 percent and Dammam with 20 percent.