This city in Dubai is known for its luxurious life, attractive shopping malls, and extravagant experiences in shopping.
On top of this, the location has become a global hub for fashion and retail. Yet again, in seeking plus size items of clothing, you rather be prepared for higher prices.
However, if you are looking for plus-size clothing in the city, you might notice that prices are considerably higher compared to regular-sized apparel. You might be curious to know the reasons behind such a scenario; there are, in fact, many.
But why exactly is that the case? Well, there are many reasons as to why plus-size clothes in Dubai cost a bit more. Let us take a brief friendly look into some of the major reasons why they cost a bit more.
Limited Availability
The biggest reason for the difference in price is the fact that there is less supply for plus sizes. Mass production occurs in standard sizes, while the number of plus-size pieces made at a time is less.
As a result, fewer styles are available, and stores must adjust their prices to absorb the cost of placing those speciality orders. The prices increase since there isn't a great deal of demand for mass production.
Import Cost
Other factors are the costs of importing the said clothes as such would be supplied by a few home-based producers in Dubai and imported sources are more likely to be the store's best option at times.
These will include some shipping fees, import duty, and taxes. This could add up to what the customer pays for as their bulkier and larger products would require additional care during handling and packaging to ensure smooth transportation to their most desired destinations.
Luxury Market Focus
The shopping world of Dubai has the dominance of prestige brands and high fashion. Although international designers have plus-size lines, it is relatively more expensive because of the target price at the high-end market.
Because the country has many luxury product spenders, stores must stock high-end products—including plus-sizes- to make them available; thus, higher prices are pegged to brand exclusivity.
Specialized Production
Production of plus-size clothing is, more often than not, specialized in its design, fabric, and construction techniques, ensuring it can be created to fit perfectly over larger body types.
These complexities are often added to the cost of production, which is then passed on to the retail price. Secondary fit and size variations also add to these added costs.
Lower Demand
Moreover, there is less demand for plus-size clothing in Dubai than elsewhere. Although the market for regular-sized clothes is huge, the demand for larger sizes is relatively much smaller.
Thus, retailers are not likely to carry a wide range of plus-size options and few that do have limited stock. This often results in higher prices since retailers want to make the most out of the smaller, niche market they serve.
Lack of Local Manufacturers
There are very few local manufacturers of plus-size clothing in Dubai, which is another reason why it is very pricey.
Homegrown brands fill this niche for plus-size consumers in other markets, but the United Arab Emirates, for example, depends mostly on international brands and retailers to cover this segment in Dubai.
However, much fewer local designers or manufacturers can provide competitive, low- to moderate-volume plus-size garments to hit the market.
Higher Fabric Costs
Plus-size clothing will normally require more fabric as compared to standard sizes. With such a consumption curve, of course, it will increase the retail price.
This is because larger garments need extra material to ensure they fit well, especially in items like dresses and tailored clothing.
Some of the fabrics used in plus-size fashion are even classified as luxuries or of better quality. To attain the best results, comfort combined with an appropriate fit, hence the high prices.
Limited Retail Options
In general, only a few retailers sell plus-size clothing in Dubai. Sure they have stores like ASOS and H&M that provide a good choice of sizes, but are not as wide in plus sizes, which the selection is ended to reduce the competition.
If there's less competition, there's probably more room to raise prices since there will be fewer places to shop around.
Conclusion
Several reasons have been noted for why plus-size clothing is so expensive in Dubai. Among them are the restricted availability of the products, high import costs, specialized production needs, and lower demand.
So, when you go shopping in Dubai for plus-size clothing, prepare to spend a bit more. The more you understand these factors, the more enjoyable and informed your shopping will be!