One of the Zaydi family’s tailoring shops in Kut, photo: 964media
'No need to advertise'
Wasit family business tailors traditional dishdashas for three generations
WASIT – For 75 years, the Zaydi family, locally known as the “Children of Zayd,” has been a cornerstone in the tailoring of traditional men’s dishdashas in Kut, Wasit governorate. Originating as a small family operation, it has grown to include around 50 tailors across the Kut and Al-Hay districts, with the craft being passed down through three generations.
Hussein Sharif al-Zaydi, a member of the family, detailed the evolution of their business to 964media. “Our family business began with my grandfather, Nasser, who was a fabric merchant with a small shop in the Kut market. He learned tailoring from an old tailor next door when he was very young,” Hussein said. “In the 1940s, he introduced many technical skills to the craft.”
Dishdashas, a traditional garment in Arab societies, are loose-fitting, ankle-length robes worn by men, known for their comfort and suitability to the region’s hot climate.
Over the decades, Hussein’s uncles also mastered the trade, becoming some of the city’s most renowned tailors. This expertise has been handed down to the subsequent generations, bolstering the family’s reputation in the region.
Today, the Zaydi family is celebrated for three key principles in their tailoring: punctuality, quality workmanship, and precise measurements. “We are proud of our good reputation in the market and always strive to maintain it,” Hussein emphasized.
Interestingly, the Zaydi tailors do not heavily rely on advertising. “What you see in the market is just a few signs; many of us don’t need to advertise. We work based on reputation and rely on customers who have been coming to us for decades,” Hussein noted, highlighting the strong customer loyalty they have cultivated over the years.
