KUWAIT CITY, March 27: The readymade clothing markets flourish every year when Eid Al-Fitr is fast approaching. A field visit by the staff of the newspaper revealed a 25 percent increase in clothing prices this season compared to last season. Several shoppers expressed their dissatisfaction with the rising clothing prices this season, stating that merchants exploit the holidays and occasions to raise prices and offer consolation to low-income earners.

Salah Al-Dakash revealed that he and his children planned to buy Eid clothes, but was surprised by the high prices. He said a regular T-shirt, which used to sell for around KD2.500, now costs more than KD4, while the price of training pants for children that were sold for KD3.500 last year soared remarkably. He called for the necessary action by official consumer protection agencies to halt this exaggerated rise in clothing prices.

Young Mohammad Ali disclosed that more than 90 percent of ready-made clothing in the market is poorly manufactured, quickly discolored with use, and prone to fluff. “Despite this, they are sold at high prices. Clothing retailers exploit children’s joy during Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha by automatically raising prices, which have increased by more than 30 percent this year despite their poor quality.

Umm Jumana stated that she only buys ready-made clothing from trusted companies that offer high-quality products. However, she expressed disappointment over high prices, indicating a pair of youth trousers now costs more than KD12. She added the poorly manufactured trousers sell for around KD3 or slightly more, but their color changes with washing. She urged ready-made clothing retailers to reduce prices, especially during special occasions like Eid Al-Fitr, out of compassion for low-income families.

Shopper Jameel Al-Ibrahim raised a major issue: some ready-to-wear stores sell products with defective fitting without the buyer’s knowledge. “This is why they are sometimes sold at extremely low prices,” he claimed. He asserted that the ready-to-wear market in the country needs a serious response from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to hold accountable merchants who unjustifiably raise prices.

Jamal Al-Arabi, an official at a ready-to-wear store, admitted there has been an increase in ready-to-wear clothing prices due to price hikes in the country of origin due to the high cost of cotton. He clarified that the rate of increase is not fixed, as the price rather increases before the holidays to compensate for the stagnation they suffered for a long period. He added prices have increased by approximately 23 percent compared to last year’s Eid Al-Fitr season. He continued “Ready-made clothing stores in Kuwait are not very active except during the travel season, specifically after the end of May. This activity continues until early July, after which ready-made clothing companies suffer a recession due to the tendency of many expatriates to buy clothes from the Friday Market, especially used products, which are sold at the lowest prices, with an item selling for half a dinar. This is why expatriates prefer it, even though most of the Friday Market products are for deceased people or those killed in accidents in general.”

By Najeh Bilal
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff