Passing down heritage dress to the youngest members of the family.
Ethnic Wear Guide
Many Emirati and Gulf families dress children in traditional wear from a young age, whether for daily life, Friday prayers, National Day, or family celebrations. The Dubai Mall offers a couple of genuine options for this, worth knowing about before you shop. Here is where to buy traditional wear for children at The Dubai Mall.
Kandura Studio — The mall’s dedicated kandura specialist stocks a range of styles for men, and it is worth asking in person about children’s sizing, since many kandura specialists across the UAE offer smaller sizes made to the same design principles as the adult range, even where this is not always the headline focus of the shop floor.
Mauzan — The mall’s abaya and modest fashion house occasionally carries pieces suited to older girls alongside its main womenswear range. For younger girls specifically, it is worth asking staff whether current collections include suitable sizing, since ranges can shift with each new season.
Babyshop — For younger children specifically, Babyshop occasionally stocks simple, modest-appropriate pieces suited to family gatherings, such as loose kaftan-style dresses for girls, even where these are not marketed explicitly as traditional wear. It is a practical, affordable stop for everyday modest basics.
Why Families Dress Children Traditionally
For many Emirati families, dressing children in a kandura or modest wear from an early age is simply a natural extension of daily life and identity, not reserved only for special occasions. It is also common practice around National Day and Eid, when families often coordinate traditional outfits across generations for photographs and gatherings.
National Day Dressing for Little Ones
Around National Day and Flag Day, many families dress children in simple traditional pieces alongside flag-coloured accessories — a small kandura for boys or a modest dress with red, green, white, or black accents for girls. This is often a more accessible way to include younger children in the occasion than a full formal traditional outfit.
What to Expect When Buying for Children
Children’s traditional wear generally mirrors adult styling — a simple white kandura for boys, modest, comfortable pieces for girls — but with practical adjustments for growing bodies and active play, such as slightly shorter lengths and more durable, easy-care fabrics that tolerate frequent washing better than delicate occasion fabrics.
Custom Sizing for Growing Children
Because children grow quickly, some families choose custom tailoring even for everyday traditional wear, allowing a little extra room to be built in or altered as needed over a season. If a store’s ready-made range does not offer the size you need, it is always worth asking whether a custom order is possible.
Comfort for Active Children
Whatever the style, comfort matters most for children who need to run, play, and sit through long family gatherings. Breathable, lightweight fabrics and slightly looser cuts than adult versions help young children stay comfortable through a full day of wear, particularly during warmer months or lengthy celebrations.
A Tradition Passed Down
From Kandura Studio’s willingness to accommodate younger sizes to Mauzan’s seasonal ranges for older girls, The Dubai Mall offers a starting point for dressing children traditionally, even if the selection is naturally more limited than the adult ranges. Calling ahead to confirm current stock for a specific age and occasion is always a sensible first step.
Contributed by GuestPosts.biz
