Street Style in GazaA state of siege hasn't stopped Gazans from keeping up with fashion's latest trends and showcasing their own unique style.
Cool and breezy, this Gazan's ensemble and retro shades, belie the effort necessary to find stylish items amidst restricted supply and high prices caused by Gaza's nearly hermetically sealed borders.
 This Gazan business woman sports a matching outfit strikingly set off by the colorful graffiti she passes on the way to the office. Gaza's walls are also a forum for self-expression. (Photo: Sami Haven) Like kids on the first day of school, these Gazan youngsters are sporting their best outfits as they wave to the camera. Clothes becaame particularly scarce and expensive after Israel tightened its siege of Gaza in 2007, halting imports until 2010. To this day, no major retailer will open a location in Gaza due to the unstable political and security situation. (Photo: Sami Haven) 
With a pose to rival Zoolander's Blue Steel, this passerby shows that fashion in Gaza is not merely for the ladies in his stylish vest and graphic tee.
Gaza teaches that not all style is the same. A student in front of the Islamic University shows off her colorful bag while wearing the niqab, challenging simplistic views of fashion in the process.
The envy of men's shoe catalogs everywhere, the updated moccasin look evokes equal parts Eddie Bauer and felt slipper. Practical as well, these shoes are easier to come by than sneakers which must be smuggled thorugh tunnels or imported at high cost from Israel.
Showcasing a blend of styles, Gazans have had to become fashion omnivores due to a lack ofinternational retailers. Here a young hip hop artist has chosen hipster shades and skinny jeans to create his B-Boy persona as he passes by a graffiti tag.
Fashion Labels Popular
In Gaza Despite Hardship |
GAZA CITY — In the Old City of Gaza, Levi's, Adidas and many other brands names are on display at the largest secondhand shop in the impoverished coastal enclave. Such popular labels are only available at this market, Fras, as the majority in Palestinians in Gaza cannot afford them new but nonetheless still desire them. The Fras Market introduced Palestinians in Gaza to international brands. The goods there are mostly brought in from Israel, and the majority of the brands are Israeli, with a few American and European labels mixed in.
Abu Muhammad Abu Kheir has been a clothes retailer at Fras for more than 15 years. He is satisfied with his work, given the considerable flow of customers. “Although the majority of my customers are poor, I have many well-off customers who regularly come and ask for specific brands,” Abu Kheir told Al-Monitor at his modest shop. The prices at Abu Kheir’s outlet range from $1 to $10 for secondhand original brands. His prices are considered high compared to those before Israel tightened its siege of Gaza in 2007, after which exports to Gaza ceased until 2010. As a consequence, Israeli traders turned to other countries. After exporting resumed, Gaza traders had to adjust to the new, higher prices.
“Before 2007, I used to buy a ton of clothes for $1,000, now I get them for more than $2,000. This has affected my work, of course,” explained Abu Kheir. Unstable borders have always affected trade in Gaza. In 2007 before the tunnels under the Egyptian border were dug, Gaza suffered a serious drop in clothing imports, as well as other goods. After the tunnels became operational, traders smuggled in Egyptian clothes, but they did not satisfy Palestinian tastes. With Turkish television soap operas becoming popular in the Middle East, retailers began importing Turkish clothing, which has been well received by customers. Abdullah Qassim, who just opened a clothing store at the al-Remal shopping area, considered the most prestigious in Gaza, said that he basically relies on Turkish goods since it is currently the most popular trend. Although the prices at Qassim’s shop are higher than at other outlets, he says that there are enough people willing to pay more to get a stylish outfit. “I choose my goods based on quality and brand, and I always have customers who are interested,” Qassim explained. Given a choice between original brands and high-quality imitations, he opts for the latter because the originals are not affordable in Gaza. The unstable financial situation makes retail difficult, even for “elites,” who are normally the best customers. “These relatively rich people are [also] a part of the society. They are normally affected by economic changes [as well],” Qassim noted. Despite the demand for international brands, no major retailer would risk opening an outlet in Gaza given the chronic instability. In addition, some Palestinians still consider buying American and Israeli brands immoral in light of the ongoing Israeli occupation. In August, the well-known Israeli clothing brand Fox was prepared to open a branch in Ramallah before outrage spread on social media, with Palestinian activists calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. Although Israeli labels do not have outlets in Gaza, shops that sell them are among the most popular. According to consumers, Israeli products are considered the best in Gaza, except among the few who prefer to boycott them. Yara Hussam said that among all the clothes in Gaza, she prefers Israeli labels because of their quality. “I wish I could boycott [them], but I prefer the Israeli brands over the Turkish for being better in quality and prices,” Hussam explained. In addition to the high tax rate of 14.5% that retailers must pay on their goods, renting a shop in Gaza can cost more than $5,000 a year, according to Qassim. Thus, consumers end up having to buy expensive goods. Aya Sameh said that she prefers getting her clothes from Jordan because of the prices in Gaza and the limited options. “I can’t find all the brands I look for, and even when I find them, they are always too expensive.” Abeer Ayyoub is a columnist for Al-Monitor's Palestine Pulse. She graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza with a BA in English literature. She is a former human rights researcher turned journalist whose work has also appeared in Al-Masry al-Youm, Al Jazeera and Haaretz. On Twitter: @Abeerayyoub
Last edited by abgsedapmalam on 7-11-2013 10:55 AM
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Post time 1-11-2013 04:34 PM
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