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Pioneering female Saudi merchant sells abayas with World Cup logos
![[Yasser Al-Ghamdi/Al-Shorfa] Rania Khoqir aspires to open a large factory for her designs.](/cocoon/meii/images/2010/06/17/100617-feature-3-photoAP.jpg) [Yasser Al-Ghamdi/Al-Shorfa] Rania Khoqir aspires to open a large factory for her designs. |
Balancing two careers as a university professor in Jeddah and a shop owner, Saudi fashion designer Rania Khoqir is breaking down society's barriers. She exerted much effort to procure permits for the shop which sells women's clothes and abayas she designed.
Rania's focus is attracting female customers to see her latest designs of women's abayas, embroidered with logos and colors of the major world soccer teams in celebration of the 2010 World Cup.
Al-Shorfa met with Rania to talk about her innovative designs and discuss the challenges she faced when opening her store.
Al-Shorfa: How did you come up with the idea of "Mondial Abayas"?
Khoqir: Mondial Abayas is not the first time I brought world events into local dress, as I always follow the local and global occasions people are preoccupied with and draw from them in my designs. I designed abayas for Saudi National Day and children's abayas embroidered with Disney characters. The latter were the main reason why my 11-year-old daughter wears an abaya when she was not keen to do so.
Al-Shorfa: How did the final idea take shape?
Khoqir: I conducted a poll among my friends, acquaintances and customers asking them about their position on it, and I found enthusiastic acceptance. I conducted another poll about the most famous teams that might interest them and the numbers of the most famous players. Their choice of 10 teams was nearly unanimous, and they also requested adding the Algerian national team logo because it is the only Arab team participating in the World Cup. I accepted the idea and added the Saudi national team, which I try to add to all of my new designs.
Al-Shorfa: Did they gain acceptance among young women?
Khoqir: Mondial abayas, based on everyone's feedback, were very popular, and they were very well received among my customers. I received many requests for them, and I offered them at an acceptable price for everyone … because the occasion of World Cup is not limited to a particular class. I want to promote my idea and encourage a love of sports among young women and do not want the prices to drive them away.
Al-Shorfa: It is not common in Saudi Arabia for women to own a shop. How would you describe your experience, especially given that you are a university professor?
Khoqir: My store is located in a corner dedicated to families within a large shopping mall. Neighboring my store are five shops run by women, and young men are not allowed to enter. The experience was really hard. My difficulties began within my house, then with my acquaintances, community members, and finally with the authorities responsible for issuing licenses to shops.
My family strongly opposed my plan to run the shop and sell there. They tried to convince me that it was a mistake despite their support for my work from the outset. They proposed other solutions, and they reminded me of my social status as well as the conservative nature of Saudi society and the difficulties it would present. I was determined and persuaded them that this was the only way to attain my future goals. My social status must be a source of motivation rather than a barrier so I can be a role model for Saudi women and my female students so they can overcome the fear and shame about working in any profession. In the end, I see myself as an artist, and I love my art. I must convince customers of this art, and no employee or vendor I bring in could fill this role like me.
I have faced insults from community members who visit the market where I work and endured looks of contempt, sympathy or surprise. I am subjected to undeserved comments, inquiries and harassment. Society still does not accept a young Saudi woman selling by herself.
On the other hand, I received support from some officials, intellectuals and the media. It was difficult to obtain a permit for the shop. I discovered it was not because of a bad system, but because of those in charge of implementing it and those who reject women working, deny their rights and interpret [the system] according to their whims. But I continued to exercise my rights and did not let them stand in my way.
Al-Shorfa: What is your message, and what are your future aspirations?
Khoqir: My message is to preserve a global heritage while integrating it with the contemporary designs without transgressing Saudi traditions, which is what I am doing in all my designs.
My aspiration is to find support from the competent authorities to establish my own large headquarters containing a factory and hall for supplying all its requirements, and for employment to be 100% Saudi, from design to manufacture and supply.
I am confident that if this is achieved, we will take the first steps toward creating a major industry that will, after a time, bring us self-sufficiency in this area and provide thousands of jobs for unemployed Saudi women.
Reader Comments
Saudi women have shown on many occasions their desire to take part and delve into the field of commerce and investment. Since they have been given the opportunity, even if that was in part, Saudi women have done a good job. In fact, many women have owned business corporations and investment companies, and some of them have become businesswomen. Better yet they have excelled in the field of commerce. They have entered every field and did not restrict their investment to only one area, that only proves their success in commerce. Many female commercial areas have emerged in Saudi Arabia. The government must offer more facilities for women, particularly after their success. Indeed, nowadays, many corporations in Saudi Arabia are managed by women, mainly the commercial ones. The government must support them in any way possible so that they will invest their funds instead of keeping them frozen in banks and not making use of them. This support will encourage Saudi women to participate in and contribute to the Saudi development and commercial activity, which must be commensurate with Islamic teachings, lest women invest in improper and illegitimate fields. Thus, their trade and profits will be legitimate.
Dr. Rania Khouqair is one of the pioneers in this field; she is indeed magnificent in all her work and efforts, for which she is appreciated. Her designs have an Islamic characteristic, since she is establishing her school at a steady pace, and time will bring out these lines at the surface soon. She is specialized and moving in deliberate steps, and from a purely scientific perspective. As a Saudi woman, she is aware of the requirements and needs of Saudi women, as well as what is good for this conservative society, thanks to God. I wish her success and moving forward. Regards.
The article is great and I can tell that what Dr. Rania said is correct. I was surprised at the prices of abas, but she was very kind and offered me discounts for my younger siblings.
Some women have taken the initiative to remove this obstacle and to get their rights by starting to get into the world of trade, despite all difficulties they face, including the unwillingness of society to accept them, and the negative perception that it has about them. However, those women continued to work, and some of them have made distinguished achievements. This proved to the Saudi society that women represent a fundamental, indispensable partner of the society. They proved that women could do good, useful work that is comparable to the work done by men, once they had the opportunity to do so.
In fact, the Saudi women are trying to get rid of the conditions imposed on them. They are still trying, in many ways, to become productive women who are able to contribute to their society. There are a lot of Saudi women who have a lot of money and want to use their money in trade for example. Some of them have started to get into the world of trade, little by little. They got into this big world that has always been a territory for men despite the special difficulties they face resulting from the nature of the Saudi society, which has a specific perception of women.
I endorse what the Saudi women did with regard to entering the world of trade, despite the difficulties they face. However, Saudi women should face other difficulties in order to be open to the world, to be able to drive a private car, to get a job opportunity in state departments, to be nominated for leading positions in companies and to play major roles that are played by women in successful societies.
I greet the courage of the Saudi women who engage in trade, despite the obstacles of society. This is great! I wish them success!
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