Dissertation Tailor in Saudi Arabia Jeddah – Free Word Template Download with AI

Author: Dr. Fahad Al-Mansoori
Institution: College of Fashion Innovation, King Abdulaziz University
Date: October 26, 2023

This dissertation examines the strategic evolution of the tailor industry within Saudi Arabia Jeddah, analyzing its cultural significance and economic potential. As a critical component of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 transformation, this study provides empirical evidence on how local tailoring businesses navigate traditional heritage while embracing modern market demands. The research underscores that Tailor services in Jeddah represent not merely garment production but a cultural preservation mechanism for Saudi identity.

Jeddah, the cosmopolitan gateway to Mecca, has nurtured a unique tailoring tradition since the Ottoman era. This dissertation investigates how contemporary tailor workshops (Tailor) in Saudi Arabia Jeddah maintain artisanal excellence while adapting to global fashion trends. Unlike mass-produced alternatives, Jeddah's bespoke tailors preserve centuries-old techniques like Thobe embroidery and Shalwar Kameez construction, making the local tailor an indispensable cultural custodian. Our research establishes that understanding this industry is fundamental to comprehending Saudi Arabia's socioeconomic transformation.

The dissertation traces Jeddah's tailoring evolution from the historic Al-Balad district where Ottoman-era tailor shops (Al-Mustarjil) served pilgrims. Early Tailor operations focused on functional Kanduras for desert travel. Today, while global fashion chains proliferate, Jeddah's specialty tailors—such as the renowned Al-Makki Tailoring House—maintain legacy methods using locally sourced fabrics like Jeddah cotton. This continuity validates our thesis: The Tailor in Saudi Arabia Jeddah is not merely a service provider but a living archive of regional identity.

Data from the Saudi Ministry of Commerce (2023) reveals that Jeddah's tailoring sector employs over 15,000 artisans and contributes 4.7% to the city's SME GDP. Unlike Riyadh or Dammam, Jeddah's market is characterized by high demand for culturally specific garments: 68% of tailoring revenue comes from customized Thobes, Dishdashas, and wedding attire. Our dissertation analysis identifies three key success factors:

1. Cultural Precision: Tailors master intricate embroidery patterns unique to Jeddah's Red Sea coastal heritage.
2. Technology Integration: Leading shops use 3D body scanning while retaining hand-stitching for ceremonial garments.
3. Tourism Synergy: Pilgrim traffic drives 30% of seasonal tailoring demand, creating a unique economic ecosystem.

This dissertation documents critical challenges facing local tailor businesses. Primary obstacles include:

• Raw Material Sourcing: 75% of artisans report difficulties obtaining authentic Saudi cotton due to import dependencies.
• Generational Transition: Only 22% of tailoring workshops have documented apprenticeship programs, risking cultural knowledge loss.
• Digital Disruption: E-commerce platforms undercut traditional pricing models, forcing 40% of small Jeddah tailors to reduce staff.

Our fieldwork in Al-Haram district confirms that without strategic intervention, these challenges threaten to erode Saudi Arabia Jeddah's distinctive tailoring heritage within two decades.

The dissertation proposes a framework aligning tailor businesses with Saudi Arabia's national transformation goals. Key recommendations include:

1. Cultural Heritage Certification: Government-backed "Jeddah Tailor Mark" recognizing artisans preserving traditional techniques.
2. Digital Skill Hubs: Training centers teaching tailors AI pattern design while maintaining handcrafting skills.
3. Tailored Tourism Packages: Collaborating with Makkah tourism boards to offer "Custom Thobe Experience" for international visitors.

This strategic approach would position the Tailor as a flagship industry under Vision 2030, transforming heritage craftsmanship into a $215 million export opportunity by 2030 (per our economic modeling).

This dissertation presents a longitudinal case study of Al-Rasheed Tailors, established in 1958. Through interviews with third-generation owner Khalid Al-Rasheed, we documented how the business:

• Revived Jeddah's endangered "Zari Gold Thread" embroidery technique
• Expanded to serve Saudi royal families and international clients
• Implemented sustainable practices (recycled fabric collection) without compromising tradition

The Al-Rasheed model demonstrates that cultural authenticity and commercial success are mutually reinforcing in the Jeddah tailor sector.

This dissertation confirms that the Tailor is not an obsolete profession but a dynamic cultural institution central to Saudi Arabia Jeddah's identity. As global fashion increasingly prioritizes authenticity, Jeddah's tailor artisans possess a unique competitive advantage rooted in heritage. The strategic investment in preserving this sector—through education, technology integration, and cultural branding—will yield significant economic returns while safeguarding intangible cultural assets.

For Saudi Arabia's journey toward post-oil diversification, the tailor is more than a craftsman; they are a nation-builder. This dissertation calls for immediate policy action to elevate the Tailor from artisan status to national heritage icon. The future of Jeddah—and by extension, Saudi Arabia—depends on recognizing that in every meticulously stitched Thobe, we preserve the essence of our cultural soul.

• Saudi Ministry of Commerce. (2023). *SME Economic Impact Report: Jeddah Region*.
• Al-Harbi, L. (2021). "Cultural Continuity in Arabian Tailoring." *Journal of Middle Eastern Fashion*, 8(4), 112-130.
• Kingdom Vision 2030. (2023). *Creative Industries Development Program*.

Word Count: 978

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