Photo caption: A worker at the Najaf Garment Factory inspects a newly finished men’s suit as part of the factory’s multi-stage quality process. The facility produces civilian, military, and medical clothing but has seen government contracts suspended in recent years. Photo by 964media.
Najaf Garment Factory keeps Iraq’s tailoring tradition alive despite loss of state contracts
NAJAF — Once a hub of Iraq’s textile production, the Najaf Garment Factory now relies on private orders and retail sales after government ministries halted their contracts, ending decades of steady supply to the military and health sectors. Despite challenges, the facility continues to produce thousands of tailored garments with remarkable precision.
A men’s suit made at the factory passes through nearly 400 production stages and undergoes testing on at least 10 devices. The sprawling complex includes three divisions: a “developed suit” unit, a military products unit, and a medical products unit.
Factory director Shaker Hammoud Karim told 964media that government institutions no longer purchase its nationally made goods. “The bad news is that government ministries no longer buy these high-quality national products,” he said. “The Defense, Interior, and even Health ministries stopped their contracts and opened their own workshops, despite the extensive experience we have here in Najaf.”
Karim said production relies on imported fabrics because most domestic textile plants have shut down. “The local fabric isn’t suitable for quality men’s suits, while imported fabrics range from poor to very good,” he said. The factory’s previous contracts with the Defense and Interior ministries ended in 2018–2019, and its final deal with the Health Ministry concluded in 2022.
The facility spans 72 dunams and employs between 800 and 840 workers—about half its former workforce. “Men handle cutting and maintenance, while women make up nearly 90% of the workforce and carry out most of the sewing,” Karim said.
Salah al-Zalmi, head of the developed suit unit, said preparations are underway for winter production. “After the materials are prepared, they’re sent to the sewing section, which uses advanced machines to stitch suits and jackets,” he said.
Factory spokesperson Ahmed al-Talqani said the facility remains capable of meeting large-scale demand. “The factory has three divisions—developed suits, military products, and medical products—and can meet the needs of ministries and government departments,” he said. “Our fabrics, cuts, models, and technology all meet technical specifications.”
After losing ministry contracts, the factory began working with the private sector, labor unions, and local companies. Al-Talqani said it holds ISO certification for quality and has never recorded a violation.
Inside the facility, 964media documented storage areas containing about 50,000 lawyer’s robes awaiting delivery to the bar association. Factory prices remain remarkably low: a three-piece men’s suit costs 27,000 dinars ($19), while other models are priced at 40,000 and 60,000 dinars ($29 and $43). Jackets sell for 30,000 dinars ($21), and trousers and shirts for 10,000 dinars ($7).
Retail centers operate nationwide, from Mosul to Nasiriyah, including four branches in Baghdad. Al-Talqani said Iraqi designers closely follow global fashion trends. “Our team keeps up with international styles as soon as they appear in fashion capitals,” he said.