Tweet

Experiences in the Middle East - Clothing and Culture

Written by: Gloria Starr

Article Overview: Experiences in the Middle East with Gloria Starr

Experiences in the Middle East - Clothing and Culture

The Abaya - head to toe covering for the women of Middle East. lt has become a fashion statement. You can even buy haute couture abayas. The women do not see wearing abayas as a form of oppression, but as a form of individual liberation. Today, they come in every cut and design conceivable. Like Western-style fashion, there are abayas for different times of the day and occasions. Abayas for normal daytime wear are usually plain or have simple designs. Abayas for evening wear are more elaborate, with different cuts and intricate designs. Abayas for special occasions such as weddings and Eid are so exquisite that they almost look like black gowns. Diamante, Swarovski crystals, leather, lace, denim and fur-abayas are laden with everything imaginable. You can even get sporty abayas!

Many young women are pursuing higher studies and careers in fashion design: one graduate is now working in Paris for Valentino. They are setting up their own abaya businesses and are opening their own boutiques.

The majority of Middle Eastern women have excellent taste in clothing and accessories and follow fashion as women tend to do all over the world. Just because tradition and society expects them to wear an abaya and sheila, it does not mean that they put on the first thing they see when they wake up in the morning.

Women of the Middle East are some of the world's best groomed women, with regular visits to salons and spas, waxing body and facial hair, threading their eyebrows and getting manicures and pedicures. Under those sheilas is hair professionally cut, dyed and highlighted.

The women love to shop and they sport haute couture bags and accessories, chic shoes and fashionable outfits under their Abayas.

I had the pleasure of working in Abu Dhaubi and Dubai on my first trip to the Middle East several years ago. Dubai is filled with people that wear clothing from all cultural backgrounds from the three piece British tailored suit, to the sari, Abaya and western attire,

Abu Dhabi seemed to be less influenced by western culture and everyone of the UAE Nationals that attended my first seminar arrived in the traditional attire of their culture. I on the other hand had worn a lovely skirted suit. This was not my best choice.

My next visit to the Middle East included a trip to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi. I received a special invitation to visit Riyadh from the Aljoud Institute for Women.

This required two visits to the Saudi Embassy in Dubai with my Canadian passport, new photo and the appropriate amount of money. Upon entering the Embassy, I received a lot of attention and it was not favorable. I was waiting in the men's area of the Embassy and they were gesturing me to leave/move away. I then discovered that there was a women's room. Finally my Visa was approved.

The plane from Dubai to Riyadh was boarding and I asked the flight attendant when I should put on the Abaya. Her response was "it is not mandatory however, the Arabs would feel more comfortable if you honored their culture and traditions." So, I donned the Abaya and wondered if I would ever be on American soil again.

I flew in to Riyadh and was guided in to the VIP rooms of the airport upon arrival. Chandeliers, prayer rugs and coffee in brass pots with lovely gold rimmed, china cups took me by surprise. Two men approached me with a sign bearing my name so I followed them. They took my passport and my baggage claim tags. Things were not looking good. Then in to a car with people I did not know, that did not speak English and they had my passport and luggage.

Arriving at the hotel as the guest of King Abdullah, I was greeted by a French staff member. He spoke perfect English. My first words to him were "I am counting on you personally to take care of me." His words "yes, Madam, you are perfectly safe here."

I had a lovely suite, butler and wonderful service. I wore the Abaya, ate in the family section of the hotel dining room and not one man looked at me. It is considered disrespectful to look at a woman in their culture.

I had the pleasure of teaching etiquette classes to the women and children. After the classes, some of the women snapped open their Abaya and much to my surprise they were wearing stunning designer garments. Well educated, several degrees, speaking several languages fluently and they were fashionable.

I also had the pleasure of a visit to King Abdullah's Palace as a guest of my host, the owner of the Aljoud Institute for Women.

I am now quite comfortable in the Middle Eastern culture and have had the pleasure of many trips. My client list includes executives from United Gulf Steel, Aramco, Emirate Technical Associates, Al Jassim Engineering Consulting, Habibsons Bank, Qatar Airways and Emirates Airlines. My clients also include members of the Ruling Family of Dubai and King Abdullah's family members. I am honored and delighted to have enjoyed the people and the culture.

Related Articles
  Booming IT Spending in Middle East & Africa
  McDonald’s Middle East Franchise reports a 3.4 percent surge in sales
  British Fitness Club Energie Franchise powers Gulf health stream
  SME's - the future is bright
  Aussie franchisor, Retail Food Group acquires Esquires Coffee

Article Tags: careers in fashion, diamante, different times, facial hair, fashion design, fashion statement, fashionable outfits, first trip, haute couture, intricate designs, leather lace, manicures and pedicures, middle eastern women, sheilas, special occasions, style fashion, swarovski crystals, tailored suit, women of the middle east, working in paris



Related Forum Posts
Re: Google Adsense - no visitors in 4 hours! - [quote="OmnivoreInk":22xccdap]and today no one's visited any of my sites at all in 4 hours??? I find that very difficult to believe. [/quote:22xccdap] To update, had 80 visitors between 5 and 6 pm...that's more like it... Nevertheless, that's 4 hours that have just disappeared and I don't really believe that no one looked at at least one page of my site in all that time.... Of course the internet in much of the Middle East seems to be down (and you can't tell me that wasn't sabotage... [i:22xccdap]three [/i:22xccdap]cables cut?) but I never got many visits from that area anyway. And there's snowstorms in the midwest.... but that means people should be stuck in their homes and surfing the web because they have nothing better to do... so still my hits should have been up, not absent! Ah, it's a mystery...
Shipping Equipments - Thinking of starting a business..Got some doubts regarding shipping.. First of all am from Dubai,Middle East.... Qs 1.)How does customs work in the U.S/U.K?Is der any way i can calculate customs duty??If i want to sell a new item to a customer in the the U.S/U.k how much customs duty and tax will i have to pay-considering the item is a musical equipment with a value of around $1400/700GBP;and the equipment weighs around 4kgs??? Qs.2)Consider the item has been used for a month.If i want to sell a used item in the U.S/U.K how much would i have to pay for customs duty and tax considering the items spec's are as mentioned above? Qs.3)Consider the item has been used for a month and the manufacturer is from the U.S(in the case of U.K the manufacturer is from the U.K),then how much would i have to pay for customs and tax etc.. Cause i'v heard if an item that is produced in the U.S is returned back to U.S then theres no customs for it!Is this true??How about the U.k is the same applicable?If customs is not Qs.4) What are the procedures id have to follow to ship in an item to the U.S/U.k??Is there any other payment id have to make other than duty and tax?? Is there any easier method/tricks i could follow to get the customs duty reduced if an selling a New item to the U.S/U.K Is there any place where i can find the customs information for places around the world? Thanks alot for all your help.
Re: Men don't wear ties (necktie: US) like before! - Time and place. Some places of business really do require a tie. Depending on your business, you're often dressing for your client's comfort more than your own. When I meet with clients at a big corporate office downtown, I of course wear a suit. But when I meet clients in less formal settings, such as a restaurant in The East Village or Lower East Side (and I know my client is going to be wearing jeans), then I wear a stylish outfit that matches my environment, but is just slightly dressier than my surroundings. So I really dress for the setting I'll be in and also for my clients comfort. I noticed that when I started to wear dressier clothing, my clients actually matched me and upped the level of their own dress which I found interesting.
English teachers learn Japanese as Interns - Yasunori, what about the many students that leave N. America to teach English in Japan. They may want to learn Japanese (maybe Business Japanese is a bit different) and the Japanese Business Culture.
Clothing Franchises - I believe that there are quite a few franchises for larger brands such as Diesel, Lacoste and Bennetton etc... but I am not sure how these contracts work. In New Zealand, Canada & Switzerland Clothing Franchises are for smaller designer brands & Outdoor clothing -- such as Bivouac, the great Outdoors etc Ian


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Selling What Sizzles vs. Delivering Real Value

Induction – your first management job

African Technology Development

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.