ShareInside a small tailor shop in a residential area, dozens of bags filled with dresses and abayas sit in a messy heap near the counter, waiting to be claimed. A single sewing machine hums in the corner, where a tailor leans forward, guiding a piece of cloth beneath the needle. Nearby, an assistant cuts fabric on a wooden table. The space is cramped — barely enough room to move.
A customer stands by, watching as Mohammed, the shop’s chief tailor, rummages through the bags in search of her order. Hanging on the wall are samples of the tailor’s own designs — a crisp white shirt with cut outs and beads and colorful patterned dress, a showcase of skill in hopes of drawing new customers. Despite the steady trickle of people picking up their altered clothes or requesting last-minute adjustments, this year, profits have taken a hit. “Compared to last year, our earnings are down by nearly KD 2,000,” Mohammed, who didn’t give his last name, told Kuwait Times. Mohammed’s shop has been in operation for a decade.
Busy season for men’s tailors
In Kuwait City, men’s tailor shops tell a different story. Tailors specializing in dishdashas — the traditional garment worn by Kuwaiti men — are swamped with Eid orders. The demand is so high that some tailors stop taking new requests before Ramadan.
“It’s very busy this year, busier than it’s ever been,” said Saleem, who didn’t give his last name. Saleem is a men’s tailor at the famous central business district 9 (CBD 9), locally known as Blockat, which houses Kuwait City’s textile district. “We make 50-60 dishdashas a day,” he added.
In contrast, many women now opt for ready-made outfits available at malls, reducing the need for custom tailoring. “It’s more convenient and there’s a huge variety so it’s easy for me to find what I’m looking for,” said Maha Aziz, who’s been buying her Eid outfit off the rack for years. Fast fashion from websites like Shein and Temu have also stolen customers from tailors in recent years. Another women’s tailor based in Salmiya confirmed the change in consumer habits in a January 2025 interview with Kuwait Times.
“Every year profits have been dropping by a little bit. These websites provide cheap options, but the quality is terrible,” said Mohammed, the chief tailor at the women’s shop. He also mentioned a growing competitor: local designers selling their creations on Instagram. Many have little experience, but their trendy designs attract customers despite the high prices and lower-quality materials. The main selling point? Their items are just a click away. A quick search on Instagram reveals a flood of these accounts, with some even receiving complaints in the comments about product quality.
A sense of relief
While not as common, some men are opting for ready-made dishdashas as well. Ahmed Al-Mutairi bought his from a boutique to avoid haggling with tailors during the notoriously busy Ramadan season. But the tailor remains the number one option for many. Two men’s tailors that Kuwait Times spoke with said they’ve had some customers for as long as 20 years.
Saleem relies on his long-time customers during the busy Ramadan season, which remains the most profitable time of the year. But more work means no rest for Saleem and his team of 12 tailors. “We work every day from 7 am to 11 pm,” he said. “We get tired but there’s work to do, and it has to get done. It’s always like this during Ramadan.”
Easing the long hours is a sense of relief for Saleem, who is 55, and a few of his workers feel after the government’s recent decision to lift residency permit restrictions on expats over 60 years old. Previously, these expats without a university degree had to pay a special fee of KD 250 annually, along with KD 500 for health insurance, bringing the total cost to about KD 900 for residency renewal.
“The old situation caused a lot of issues. Four or five people who worked for us had to leave the country when the restrictions were first put in place,” Saleem explained.
Now, expats over 60 without a university degree pay the same fees as other expats — KD 70 for government health insurance and other standard fees. “The new decision is very good. All tailors were very happy when it was announced.”
Back in Mohammed’s small shop, a multi-generational family walks in with bags of clothing items. A mother, her two daughters and their grandmother ask for alterations to their Eid outfits — three daraas and a pair of pants. Despite the drop in revenues, Mohammed gives his honest advice when a woman asks to alter her daughter’s pants to make them two sizes smaller. “I think it’s better if you return this at the store where you bought it,” he advised after examining the pants and expertly taking the young girl’s measurements. “You’ll lose a lot of fabric if I alter it.” The woman agrees and asks when to bring in two of her mother’s abayas for non-urgent alterations. “After Eid is better,” he said. “We’re busy with Eid orders now.”
