Thumbs up: Fans from around the world have refashioned traditional Gulf Arab headdresses and thobes. — AP
THE World Cup in Qatar has become a political lightning rod, so it comes as no surprise that fans’ sartorial style has sparked controversy.
Forget your classic football jerseys – the streets of Doha have been transformed into a chaotic runway show in terms of fashion.
Visitors from around the world are wearing revamped versions of traditional Gulf Arab headdresses and thobes.
Their fashion has drawn everything from amusement to outrage from locals in the tiny Muslim emirate that has seen nothing remotely like the spectacle of the World Cup before.
The most popular style among foreign fans at this World Cup is the ghutra, the traditional head scarf worn by men across the Arabian Peninsula.
If photographed at a Halloween party back home in Cape Town, South Africa, 60-year-old Gavin Coetzee admits his wardrobe choice might seem ill-conceived – even cringe-worthy.
He asked a tailor to stitch together four African flags into a ghutra and stereotypical Arabian thobe, the long flowing tunic that Qatari men wear in crisp white.
“I wouldn’t wear this in a Western country,” he said, referring to heightened cultural sensitivity there. But to his surprise, his costume has drawn elation and praise from the locals.
“It’s been amazing. Everyone wants to take our photo, ask us where we’re from, they’re interested in why we put this outfit together,” he said, alongside two friends wearing the same get-up.
The narrow alleys of Doha’s central Souq Waqif teem with vendors hawking ghutras in various national colours, from Brazil’s bright blue, green and yellow to Mexico’s tricolour red, white and green.
Qatari citizen Naji al-Naimi, a board member of Majlis al-Dama, a lively hub of coffee and backgammon in Doha’s outdoor marketplace, said the scores of international fans wearing his national dress don’t bother him in the least. Instead, he finds the trend endearing.
“We’re always trying to adjust and appeal to the customs and traditions of the host country,” he said.
However, Qatar’s local population hasn’t taken kindly to other outfits, particularly England fans’ caped crusader costumes. The outfits, featuring a suit of chainmail armour, plastic helmet and shield emblazoned with an upright cross, are a nod to the Christian conquests of the Holy Land from the 11th to 13th centuries that pitted European invaders against Muslims.
More broadly, the question of what to wear in Qatar, a conservative Muslim emirate, has sparked anxiety for female fans long before the tournament kicked off.
Fan groups circulated advice for newcomers, discouraging women from wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts. The government-run tourism website asks visitors to “show respect for local culture by avoiding excessively revealing clothing,” and recommends men and women cover their shoulders and knees.
So when Ivana Knoll, an Instagram model and former Croatian beauty queen, showed up at stadiums this week wearing a mini dress that exposed much of her chest, some feared an international incident.
But Knoll said she felt comfortable and that locals assured her she could wear whatever she wanted.
“Thank you so much for your support!” she wrote to celebrate her 1 million followers, drawing comments in Qatar reflecting a mix of admiration, outrage and puzzlement. — AP
