Not Looking for Authentication - Need help understanding Women's Clothes - Ethnic Dress Styles

[goldguy22k]

Have a large Cache of Womens clothes and would love to offer them on ebay.  Unfortunately, I have never worn women's clothes, so no idea what styles are called or the basics of fashion.

Can someone share a link or resource that would get me started?

I suspect the key items are going to be the highly bedazzled Middle Eastern style of dresses ( see picture) and scarfs.  But then again, going through the collection probably need to know what to look for and what is pedestrian.  I suspect most of the common stuff is best sent to Charity.

Can anyone help steer me in the right direction?  I know I have a lot to learn, but eager to do so and am a fast learner!

Thanks in advance!

[debora_34_]

Sorry, I can't think of a web site to help you.   Beyond, googling around to see what part of the Middle East your items are from.  If this dress is typical, do know that thrift shops are full of similar.  Not terribly old, doesn't appear to be labelled (as they often come from dressmakers) and may even be bespoke which means even size would have to be determined.  Are they all "ethnic" clothing or do you have something else?  And, keep in mind, it's always easiest to start with vintage or labelled items when determing if something is worth reselling.  I suggest you pick out a few other things as examples and post some more quick photographs.

Debora

[city*satins]

That looks like a kurta or kurtis which would be a Hindi name for a tunic.  That might be somewhere to start.  

[goldguy22k]

Thank you for the kind replies! Appreciate the help as I work my way through this.

All of the "ethnic" clothing comes from the UAE. However, as things go, with guest workers from all over the Gulf, India, Philippines, Malaysia, etc. there is a mixing of cultures and styles. Due to the size of the former owner, I am guessing most of these garments were handcrafted or tailored, so yes, not many tags.

Did some looking around on Pininterest and came up with several names that could be appropriate for the style of that dress: kaftan, jilbab, abaya. I'll look around and see if I can divide the clothing into "types" and perhaps post some additional pictures.

Of course do have the usual USA style clothes too. But as looking around eBay suggests that selling "normal" clothes can be like competing with thrift stores. Then again, if an item were on sale on eBay vs a thrift store wouldn't the convenience of eBay and negative connotations of thrift shopping be in favor of the online experience? Aren't we as sellers suppose to offer "an experience", something not found in a thrift store? or am I missing the obvious?

Thanks again for any help!

[goldguy22k]

OK, I'd say most of what I have that is ethnic fits in the kaftan category - a few examples are attached.  I guess this is pedestrian stuff?

Then with the regular clothes it looks like K-Mart brands:

Ann Taylor

Talbots

Valerie Stevens

Liz Caiborne

and a few more I don't recognize

[debora_34_]

IMPO, selling clothes on eBay is a lot of work.  Requires accurate measurements, complete descriptions, numerous and good quality photographs plus the items have to be (generally) from known labels, fashionable and in good condition.   I'd suggest -- as the quickest way to go about it is -- that you take the labelled items, do a Completed listings search and see what similars have sold for.  Those with low value/no interest can then go into your thrift shop pile.   Given that the labels you've listed are 7th Avenue brands, likely most (if not all) will fall in that category.  Or you can post quick photographs of the complete item and its label here.  Sure many would be happy to assist.

Debora

[chapeau-noir]

You have some nice pieces there - I sell a lot of traditional national clothing ('ethnic') - your last photos show me kaftans - since it's a popular style in many warmer areas of the world, often fabric will tell if they're African, middle eastern, subcontinental, etc. And you're right about the mix of influences.

Your first piece, a very nicely appliqued item, may be the kameez part of a salwar kameez (does it have very high side slits?) or a long kurta.

The best way towards identification is to simply look up sites that describe the traditional dress of countries - browse around for sites introducing various dress styles.

As for the western styles - I have little luck with any of those brands, but I'm pretty far off the grid when it comes to mainstream styles - I just list nice things I find or are consigned to me.  I live in an area with a very high immigrant/refugee population, so one of my specialities is their national dress.

After you do some research on styles, all you need for those pieces are good photos and measurements.

[chapeau-noir]

I'm sorry "Browse around for sites introducing various national dress styles" - left a word out there.

[chapeau-noir]

That last kaftan has beautiful work on it. I sold last month a gorgeous kente cloth kaftan with scalloped neckline and sides, similar in motif to that one, but the applique treatment on yours is very ornate. That kind of work is a speciality of the Philippines - I've had some jackets completely covered with that type of swirl applique with open work.

[goldguy22k]

Hey, Thank You for the reply!  I guess I didn't explain things very well - my bad.

All of the "ethnic" women's clothes I have come from one source and that source acquired the dresses in the United Arab Emirates.  Due to her size, likely tailored  by craftspersons.  

I looked around numerous sites, trying to get an idea of what those styles are called and came up with several names!  [ kaftan, jilbab, abaya, maxi dress]  Can you help me understand what is the difference between these? 

I see you wrote:

Your first piece, a very nicely appliqued item, may be the kameez part of a salwar kameez (does it have very high side slits?) or a long kurta.

Oh my!  I have a lot to learn!  LOL!  That looks like 'Greek" to me!  I'll look up those unfamiliar terms:

appliqued, kameez, salwar, kurta

..but wonder if there is a website where terms like this are explained or illustrated?

May I ask?  Are the local people you sell to craft handy & willing?  I know most people want off the rack, fits perfect, type of stuff.  Do you see that in your customers or a willingness to buy something they like and make alterations?

Thanks again for any info you are willing to share!

[chapeau-noir]

I understand, you did explain things well, but the UAE is a hub for textile and clothing manufacture and has a lot of international influences, so I'm not surprised that all of those pieces were manufactured there, it's the influences that interested me as quite a few international companies participate in the UAE market.  Your source may have gone to several shops and gotten various things.

In the general run of things 'country made' clothing (i.e., 'ethnic' clothing manufactured for a region's own population) particularly in the subcontinent, middle east and Africa, is made in small tailoring shops, and to order.  For instance, I walk into an Indian shop and want a sari. The proprieter will show me bolts of cloth and I will choose a picture of what I want. I get measured and come back a while later. My sari (or salwar kameez - which is a tunic and pants set) will be sewn and I take it home. This happens with caftans and all sorts of various African dress.

There will often not be labels (though  maybe a tailor label) and never a size in these garments because they're custom made.  Small manufacturers, i.e., not custom tailors, will have labels and sizing - I sold several pieces made from a shop which I located in a souk in a small city becaue I was able to follow the name.

The custom/small tailoring shops are very busy - I remember walking down a narrow street in the Bangladeshi area of London and passing shop after shop selling bolts of cloth, and coming from the upstairs windows, propped open on a hot summer day, the continuous humming of sewing machines.

That's why, basically, to sell these garments, I have the best photos I can, the best ID I can and measurements.  People who are interested in these garments will generally know what they're getting.  I might have some fit tips (Kameez have notoriously narrow armholes and small arms, for instance, because the fit is tight through the shoulders. Caftans are very flexible in sizing, but larger ones are better for plus sizes, smaller ones better for misses sizing).

I also sell men's clothing - Dashikis, thobes, etc., and again, it's the same deal  - I get the measurements and do my best with them.

Check sites like "traditional Indian/Pakistani dress", or "African women's clothing" and the like to see what you find. Many sites are quite helpful.

Hopefully these ramblings help! 

[ebeths_eclectic_collectibles]

I would think this would be a tough market to work in.  My guess is that a lot of ethnic clothing is bought and sold in ethnic shops.  I see alot of  these item  in thrift shops in my area.  Probably bought inexpensively, worn for events and then discarded.  That is just a guess but I think an educated one

[goldguy22k]

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@ebeths_eclectic_collectibles wrote:

I would think this would be a tough market to work in.  

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Thank you for the insight.  It is what I thought - do hear you!

An other area I am trying to sell in is books - another tough market.  Sigh.

So what is the strategy for tough markets?  Bundle everything into one listing and hope another seller buys it? 

Do any eBay buyers differentiate quality or most are just bargain hunters? How do you find the quality minded buyer?

[debora_34_]

Re tough markets...  You might want to do a labor vs. profit calculation.  Often times, the best strategy is to cull the obviously resaleable and donate the rest.   You're working in two catagories -- ethinic women's clothing and used books -- that are both challenging as well as likely to be time consuming and ultimately unrewarding (financially.)  

Debora

[ebeths_eclectic_collectibles]

Buy low sell high is the best strategy.  Anything is worth selling if you can get it for the right price.  I would think with ethnic clothing you would want to have something really special.  Very high quality, vintage etc....  Otherwise someone with ties to the places where these items come from are probably going to get everything at a better price than you ever could.  And like someone else stated, I sometimes have things around my home just donate to charity because I think it would be too much of a hassle to try to sell them.