Nadia Al-Fawaz Saudi Gazette ABHA – As the biting winter cold is hitting many regions of the Kingdom, especially the southern Asir province, there is a growing demand for heritage winter dresses, mainly cloaks and fur clothing. Renowned Saudi fashion designer Maha Abal Khail said there is tremendous demand particularly from young women to buy modern print fur clothes that have a heritage design. She said prices for cloaks and fur clothes range from SR1,000 to SR2,000. “More and more young women are approaching us with orders for a wide variety of designs of these types of clothes in different colors. They are keen on preserving the identity of their heritage and culture while remaining warm in winter wear similar to their men who typically wear woolen clothes and animal hide during winter,” she said. According to Abal Khail, many women are starting to substitute the black, all-encompassing “abaya” that women wear when in public with dark-colored fur clothing. Decorated with intricate embroidery and precious gems, the fur cloaks are typically preferred for special occasions. Manal Al-Saleh, a Jellabiya saleswoman in Jeddah, said there is a high demand for cloaks in regions that experience severe cold such as Riyadh, Abha and Taif. She said a large number of Saudi female designers have come forward to design cloaks and fur clothing because of the rise in demand in both the domestic and GCC markets.
