Design My Own Caftan?

I've always wondered what it takes to design a caftan for Ramadan. This thought has been crossing my mind almost every year, especially during Ramadan's gatherings and after observing the variety and the vast selection of caftans/thoubs/darra'a worn by family and friends, and designed by talented, and not so talented, local designers. I believe some designers are a true talent in the way they cleverly mix patterns or use unexpected details in their designs. Some go out of their way and travel to exotic places to get unique fabrics just so to make their designs even more special and unique. Of course, in such cases the high price tag is justified. On the other hand we have some designers who choose to take us for granted and price their design 4 or 5 times more than their actual cost. In fact their fabrics were bought from the fabrics market in Kuwait City for around KD 1/$3 per meter and then paid the tailor something around KD 40 per piece. And let's not forget the ones who copy other designers and present badly tailored pieces. Tsk.. tsk.. tsk.

Anyways, my friend who has just started to design caftans for close friends and family decided to take me on a trip to fabrics market in Kuwait City. I thought that should be fun. And it was, for 30 minutes or so. Then I felt overwhelmed by the selection of fabrics available, and I got tired from walking, AND I got tired from hearing my friend haggling. And right there and then I gave up on the idea of designing my own caftan and thanked god for having great local talents!

Here's a quick look at some of the amazing fabrics I came across... don't ask me which shop they were, I have no idea!