Little Fashion in Saudi Arabia

Four months before I went to Japan, I went to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (the holy journey) that same year. Everything was segregated between men and women, whether it was buying Starbucks or queuing for junk food. I went to Mecca, Medina and Jeddah. I remembered my visit to Mecca and Medina, where there were Inditex and H&M, but I didn't expect them to be selling ripped jeans and sleeveless tops, while all the women were wearing burqas to cover their skin. Suddenly, in Dubai, I thought of a scene from Sex and The City 2. This is the film that depicted Arab women actually and secretly doing colours and style. Like wearing Louis Vuitton under their black burqas. The scene gave me goose bumps, along with Sarah Jessica Parker's narration and dramatic sound effects. Knowing that fashion is an unspoken language and has different interpretations, but is understandable to all women around the world.

I remembered seeing young women in the shopping centre walking by in their long, plain black burqas. I didn't pay much attention at first, but the style of one young woman caught my eye when she was wearing a Chanel trainers. She then made me realise that this was not just one young woman, but that most of them wear branded shoes and bags. They have another way of expressing their interest in fashion. Unexpectedly, I was experiencing what Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York, Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbes feel in Arabic. It was an immensely interesting perspective and case for me. There are more lifestyles than I expected.

H&M Store in Mecca

Scene Part of Sex and The City 2

If the women wear a burqa or robe, the men wear an ihram. It's two white, unhemmed sheets (usually towelling). My brother needed one to change the next day because his other ihram was dirty. Then I found Giordano and unknowingly sold Ihram's clothes. Thanks to his visual merchandiser, who put the Ihram in the shop window and made it a bestseller. It had a simple packaging that didn't require a shopping bag. That's what I call functional shopping, and it's my favourite. I thought it was ingenious, because a long, plain, unstitched piece of fabric is saleable and the most needed in the city. Well, they seized the opportunity.

Giordano Store in Mecca

The next trip was to Jeddah, where I was puzzled to see high end SUVs like Lexus and Mercedes Benz everywhere on the road. There was not a single mediocre car, or perhaps not as far as my eyes could see. If Mecca and Medina are cities of worship, Jeddah is a different matter. Some huge brands stand side by side in different buildings. Gucci's 2-storey building is next to Louis Vuitton's 2floors building. Totally shocked and amazed. It was only 3 hours from the Medina but it was a totally different world. I would like to explore more countries and be surprised by their approach to fashion.