Since the beginning of Ramadan, most women in Kuwait have been competing with one another to score the best darraas online or in malls. Not only are the women competing, but the insane prices of the darraas are competing as well! Some darraas in Kuwait are very expensive, especially during the holy month, and surprisingly, some women are ready to pay a huge amount of money just to show off and follow trends. The prices of darraas in Kuwait can range from KD 30 to over KD 200. Kuwait Times interviewed several women, asking them about the prices of darraas during Ramadan.
Sarah Al-Kandari, a 30-year-old Kuwaiti, believes darraas are very overpriced, and today’s fashions are not suitable or decent and expose too much skin. "I think darraas are too expensive. Even the designs — it’s like wearing a wedding dress and not a darraa. Even the material and fabric are not worth the price. I believe that darraas, especially in Ramadan, are supposed to be modest, but the fashion nowadays is too risque,” she said.
"Even children’s darraas are not cheaper than the ones for grownups. Compared to last year, they are also overpriced. I think darraas should be comfortable, simple and timeless pieces I can wear every year. I saw some darraas that cost more than KD 200, and I don’t think it is worth buying them, especially if you are going to wear it only once,” she added.
Ala’a Murtadha, a 25-year-old Kuwaiti, thinks darraas during Ramadan are overpriced because they have become a trend. She said the maximum price she would pay for a darraa is between KD 15 and KD 20. But her twin sister Zahra’a said prices are not fixed and everyone can find something within their budget. "I appreciate the details and quality of a darraa. With that being said, I don’t like being taken advantage of and would not pay an astronomical amount for a piece I would only wear once during Ramadan. I’d say the maximum amount I’d pay would be around KD 40,” she said.
The darraa is the Kuwaiti and Gulf women’s traditional dress. It is also called a thobe or abaya. The traditional darraa is long-sleeved, loose and floor-length. It usually has a sheer part covered in sequins and embroidery. In earlier days, darraas were boring and you couldn’t tell the difference between a 70-year-old’s and 20-year-old’s, but nowadays with social media and influencers, darraas have become a big hit, a trend and a fashion statement, with many different designs and variations, and the fashion market is taking advantage of this.
"Today darraas are very expensive and pricy because the market has evolved. We are online now, and everybody wants to show off everything they are doing. Earlier, one used to wear a darraa for ghabgas, but now they have become a trend. I didn’t even buy the darraa I have — my sister bought it for me for around KD 180 and I try to wear it every Ramadan as much as I can because it is expensive!” said Dhoha Al-Issa, a digital content creator.
Meanwhile, Hawrah Al-Yakoob, a marketing manager, believes people have forgotten the true meaning of Ramadan and what it stands for, and that people should concentrate on the spirit of Ramadan and what it represents instead of concentrating on fashions and trends. "Darraas have become a trend. We have completely forgotten what Ramadan is; Ramadan now is just a fashion show — what darraa you are wearing every day for the 30 days you are fasting and what brand are you wearing,” she pointed out.
According to Al-Yakoob, Kuwaiti women usually don’t look at prices, and this is bad. If they are savvier in terms of spending, they would look for alternatives, because there are so many places that have darraas for KD 20 or KD 30 of nice quality for simple and everyday wear.
"We Kuwaitis take prices for granted and sometimes we just spend because we just want to look nicer and compete with each other. We think in terms of short-term gratification and don’t think long-term, because next year we are probably going to change the darraa,” she said. "The most expensive darraa I have cost around KD 200, and I don’t even know if I have ever worn it, to be honest. The ones that I wear are those I have for years, and they cost less than KD 70-80,” added.