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They want ot tell us what to wear

August 20th, 2008 | Posted in Uncategorized

Crazy people at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry made a press release today saying that they have warned tailor shops not to get too creative with dishdashas (traditional robes worn by Omani men). Here is the article that was put on the FRONT PAGE of Alwatan newspaper in Arabic and Oman Tribune in English:

Warning against dishdasha tampering By Khalfan Al Rahbi

MUSCAT The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has warned tailor shops not to tamper with specified design of the Omani traditional dishdasha.

The warning comes after many tailor shops introduced novel designs which have changed the main features of the Omani dishdasha.

In a statement, the ministry asked the tailor shops to abide by the specific designs of the Omani dishdasha, which is a part of the history and culture of the Sultanate.

Do they REALLY think they can tell us WHAT TO WEAR?! Number 1, SINCE WHEN WAS HISTORY AND CULTURE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY! Number 2, even though of course they cannot enforce this in anyway, it is just crazy to realise that they even think they can tell us what to wear. What’s next, you can only have only up to two colours in your kummah (Omani head cap)?

I think that I’ve seen some weird people wearing tight-waist dishdashas and I don’t think that that they looks nice at all. However, I think that they have the right to wear whatever clothes they want. It is very natural for clothes to change and transform with time, the dishadashas we wear now were not exactly the same as what people wore a 150 years ago.

I don’t think that any of these new trends is going to catch on, but this is obviously NOT the government’s business.

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  • omanymous

    BC
    Very good post …

    i think that dishdasha policing should start at the Shangrila hotel … where they have completely destroyed the Omani dishdasha and made into some kind of shirt with slits from the side and strange embroidery… I for one refuse to wear any of the “new design” dishdashas … 3mani kwayti … m’7ussar … i make sure my dishdashas are traditional normal cut … one button .. two pockets .. three lines on sleeve and front .. two lines in the back .. 2.5 inch karkoosha ….

    although i agree with the idea of not changing the dishdasha … i also agree that is should be your choice to wear the “new” dishdasha or not .. it should NOT be dictated what you should wear in general … if you work for a ministry they can obviously dictate what you wear ..

  • omanymous

    BC Very good post … i think that dishdasha policing should start at the Shangrila hotel … where they have completely destroyed the Omani dishdasha and made into some kind of shirt with slits from the side and strange embroidery… I for one refuse to wear any of the “new design” dishdashas … 3mani kwayti … m’7ussar … i make sure my dishdashas are traditional normal cut … one button .. two pockets .. three lines on sleeve and front .. two lines in the back .. 2.5 inch karkoosha ….although i agree with the idea of not changing the dishdasha … i also agree that is should be your choice to wear the “new” dishdasha or not .. it should NOT be dictated what you should wear in general … if you work for a ministry they can obviously dictate what you wear ..

  • Anonymous

    What is the specified design out of interest?
    The extraordinary style of each hotel at the Shangri-la, the stitching pattern round the neck of the Suri , and extra long karkooshah of the Dhahira, perhaps the Bedu style of stiff material, or the Dhofari very relaxed and almost transparent , or the formal stand up collar style used by government ministers abroad.
    It might be the colour – try the lilac of the 80s, the rainbow colors of the 90s, or the older style of a beige dye. Perhaps its the 70 style of a closer fit , or the Jebali of nothing at all (except the wazar and shaal). Maybe it’s the colored Mussar, back to white guys, or the trailing ends of the guys from Shrquiyah and Musandam, or could it be the colors of the Kimmah, back to beige there . Of and don’t forget whats underneath – pure white or nothing.
    I guess the fashion police at the Min of C&I have nailed down all the bigger fish in the sea that they need to make certain that not a single small fry can develop.
    JUST WAIT LADIES – IT’S YOUR TURN NEXT

  • Suburban

    Every time I read something like this in the papers, I can only think that there are a lot of people in the government who are not working hard enough.

    Seriously, we have massive unemployment, rampant inflation, troubles with our youth, and this is what some bright spark at MOCI comes up with?

    Great post, as usual.

  • Suburban

    Every time I read something like this in the papers, I can only think that there are a lot of people in the government who are not working hard enough. Seriously, we have massive unemployment, rampant inflation, troubles with our youth, and this is what some bright spark at MOCI comes up with? Great post, as usual.

  • Kishor Cariappa

    What is Ministry of Culture doing? Working on measures to counter inflation?

    I think Omani dishdashas are the best in GCC, so elegant. Why would anyone want to tamper with the design?

  • Kishor Cariappa

    What is Ministry of Culture doing? Working on measures to counter inflation?I think Omani dishdashas are the best in GCC, so elegant. Why would anyone want to tamper with the design?

  • NiGhTFaCe

    I wouldn’t blame them if they release something like this because we came to see people screwing up the nice design of Omani dishdasha.

  • NiGhTFaCe

    I wouldn’t blame them if they release something like this because we came to see people screwing up the nice design of Omani dishdasha.

  • meteor

    hahaha such things make me really laugh, when people in authority think that they can control the public. don't they just get that the world is so opened that anyone can embrace any idea and can take anything from wherever they want.
    I think they should make it available and some young men will wear it for one year, two years, five, ten years and then thy'll be back to their original style of dishdasha>>>> tararaaa
    I totally respect the right to choose what to wear as long as it respects the public proprieties !!!

  • meteor

    hahaha such things make me really laugh, when people in authority think that they can control the public. don't they just get that the world is so opened that anyone can embrace any idea and can take anything from wherever they want.I think they should make it available and some young men will wear it for one year, two years, five, ten years and then thy'll be back to their original style of dishdasha>>>> tararaaaI totally respect the right to choose what to wear as long as it respects the public proprieties !!!

  • Angry In Oman

    Very strange indeed, especially in a country where ex-pats can dress as they wish. I think it’s odd that any higher authority would say anything about how nationals dress.

  • Angry In Oman

    Very strange indeed, especially in a country where ex-pats can dress as they wish. I think it’s odd that any higher authority would say anything about how nationals dress.

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