Gaza Brides Turn to Refurbished Gowns Amid War-Driven Price Surge

Two years of conflict between Israel and Gaza have left more than two million residents displaced and many tailoring workshops damaged or without power. Import delays and high shipping costs have limited the flow of new wedding gowns and decorative materials, prompting families to seek refurbished dresses to preserve wedding traditions despite the damage.

Reuters

Before the war, fabric for a dress cost roughly 120–150 shekels (US$41–$51). Today the same material sells for about 500 shekels (US$171). Importers cite crystal embellishments and other trims as especially scarce. Market surveys indicate the cheapest new bridal dress now starts at US$1,000, while many families have less than US$200, making dowries insufficient.

The Straits Times

The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) issued a statement that it “allows and facilitates the entry of various clothing items, in accordance with requests submitted by aid organisations and the international community.” The agency added it was not aware of any restrictions on crystal components used in wedding gowns.

Reuters

Shop employee Rawan Shalouf notes that before the war dress prices were affordable for most families, but the current cost is considered exorbitant given the war-driven economy. Families across Gaza report that even basic wedding needs are beyond reach, forcing many couples to delay or simplify their ceremonies.

The Straits Times

Seamstress Nisreen Al-Rantisi runs a workshop that still relies on a bicycle-powered sewing machine because of electricity shortages. She explains that the workshop refurbishes old gowns by cleaning, repairing, and reshaping them for reuse. Twenty-one-year-old bride-to-be Shahed Fayez says she does not care about style, only that the dress is new, yet the minimum cost of US$1,000 far exceeds her family’s budget.

The Straits Times

COGAT’s statement denies knowledge of any limits on crystal embellishments, yet a separate report notes that COGAT did not respond to inquiries about such restrictions. The lack of a clear answer leaves the status of material controls uncertain.

Reuters

• “We try to reuse the old gowns that we have, produce them by fixing them a bit, work on them, wash them, arrange them, shape them,” — Nisreen Al-Rantisi, seamstress, Gaza

UsNews and World Report

• “But now, given the circumstances we’re in, the price of a dress is ridiculous.” — Rawan Shalouf, bridal shop employee, Gaza

UsNews and World Report

• “I don’t care about its style, what’s important is that it's new,” — Shahed Fayez, 21, bride-to-be, Gaza

UsNews and World Report

• “The cheapest dress is $1,000 or more, that's the minimum, and all we have is less than $200. The entire dowry does not cover the price of a dress.” — Shahed Fayez, 21, bride-to-be, Gaza

UsNews and World Report