The clothing market in Daraa, southern Syria, is experiencing stagnation as traders hesitate to purchase new goods for fear of a sudden drop in prices, alongside a decline in customer turnout.

According to a report by Enab Baladi‘s correspondent in Daraa, the clothing markets currently lack new models, while residents are focusing on buying necessities such as food supplies, leaving luxury items like clothing aside until prices stabilize in the market.

Several clothing traders attributed the unavailability of new models to not purchasing new quantities of clothing after recent developments in Syria, which culminated in the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024.

Stability of the pound and the market

Yaser al-Mafalani, a clothing shop owner in Daraa city, stated that he hasn’t brought in new merchandise since the regime’s fall, fearing a price drop. He added that the exchange rate of the Syrian pound remains unstable.

The seller mentioned to Enab Baladi that the price of some clothing items dropped by around 100,000 Syrian pounds, while some others fell by 150,000 pounds, indicating that he will not buy new stock until market prices stabilize.

One US dollar equals 13,200 Syrian pounds, according to the currency exchange site “S-P Today.”

As for trader Omar al-Fares, who owns a women’s clothing manufacturing workshop in Daraa, he mentioned that clothing traders suffered losses due to purchasing raw materials at high prices.

He told Enab Baladi that materials were subjected to high fees from the previous regime and its military checkpoints, which imposed royalties, in addition to the high transportation costs due to the rise in fuel prices.

A clothing stall on the sidewalk of a road in the city of Daraa – December 30, 2024 (Enab Baladi/Halim Muhammad)

Low prices fail to stimulate markets

According to Enab Baladi‘s observations of several clothing shops in Daraa city and its countryside, the price of a winter jacket reached 350,000 Syrian pounds (26 USD) after being nearly 500,000 Syrian pounds (38 USD) a month ago.

The price of a sweater is now 150,000 pounds, down from 200,000, while pants are priced at 100,000 pounds compared to 200,000 Syrian pounds previously. The price of a long coat is at 350,000 pounds, after exceeding 500,000 pounds at the beginning of December 2024.

Faton al-Khalaf, a saleswoman in a women’s clothing shop in Daraa, told Enab Baladi that the commercial activity is weak due to a general decrease in purchasing power.

She added that customers inquire about the price of an item, try it on, but ultimately place it back on the table without purchasing it.

The stagnation in sales results in losses for the shop owner, as the rent for the shop reaches 1.3 million Syrian pounds (100 USD), in addition to electricity and worker costs.

For his part, Anwar al-Jahmani, another clothing shop owner, described the sales movement as “paralyzed” at the moment and expects improvement over the coming days following currency stabilization, which would mean stable clothing prices.

The people of Daraa are awaiting price stabilization and improvements in living conditions, as the province has seen a rise in rental prices, especially after the increased demand for housing due to the return of some displaced persons from Lebanon, Jordan, northern Syria, and Turkey back to their cities and towns following the fall of the Assad regime.

According to Enab Baladi‘s correspondent in Daraa, rental prices have increased by 30 to 40%, with the rent for an apartment no less than 750,000 Syrian pounds (50 USD) and possibly reaching six million pounds (400 USD) depending on the location, area, and amenities of the house.