Thread: Anyone ordered directly from Eman Zaki by email?

Hi everyone,
I was thinking of ordering 2 Emans that I saw on Dahlal, but instead going through Eman herself. Any thoughts/advice on this? I searched other threads but I couldn't really find the advice I was looking for...I really would like the costumes to be close to what is depicted on Dahlal, and I have read that Eman takes creative liberties sometimes :) so to speak....Sooooo any thought?

i think damiena ordered from her once..........

I ordered from her sister, Hoda, a few years ago. The costume was less expensive than going through Dahlal, but I had to wire the money over and was charged a hefty fee from my bank and the shipping charges were about 70 so it ended up being close to the same amount, when it was all said and done. But, I had a specific design in mind, based on a costume a friend had made while she was in Egypt and it was a design that I did not see on Dahlal's site for another year and a half. My costume arrived exactly as ordered.

duh, it WAS hoda wasn't it..............(loser sign on my forehead), my memory is taking a walk :p

it WAS fabulous!

Yep, it is fabulous! I still have it and still wear it!

Originally Posted by damiena

Yep, it is fabulous! I still have it and still wear it!

oh GREAT, i think pics are in order, can u show off that lovely?..g.:

Ok. So you think if I want what's on Dahlal's website, it would be easier to just go through her?

I've had the best luck ordering something from her that involved me giving her my measurements, and a colour. That's it.

We've attempted (when I was vending Eman Zaki with my partners in early 2000) to order replicas of costumes but, yes, she took creative liberties and we ended up with a completely different colour scheme than was requested. This was for a "special order" so we kinda got screwed.

She doesn't seem to be as responsive to my emails. I used to order from her on a regular basis through email and I ordered/requested 2 costumes a year and a half ago and never heard back. :0(

I think you need to factor in shipping and customs before discounting a vendor from your own country. I was lucky that someone picked up a Paharoanics costume for me that I had ordered over the phone with Amira but she speaks very very good English. But I am told she doesn't regularly look at emails and I bet the Hoda sisters are too busy to bring another "convenience" into their lives!
Last time I got an Eman it was through Home. Let Kay have all the hassel is my motto.
Mind you I think I have just got another Eman dress an even better way...it's being swapped for that purple Pharoanics ensemble ( I am a dress woman!).

Guess who I'm swapping with?..g.:
But I've got more of hers in my wardrobe..............

Farida Dance's address actually is a little different: Home
I've heard great things about their service as well.

Please post pics so we can drool! I saw a gorgeous Hoda Zaki last night that was enough all by itself to make me wish I could get to Cairo this year.

Originally Posted by Zana

Farida Dance's address actually is a little different: Home
I've heard great things about their service as well.

Please post pics so we can drool! I saw a gorgeous Hoda Zaki last night that was enough all by itself to make me wish I could get to Cairo this year.

Gotcha!


Black and jewels.............g.:

Rowr.

wet blanket alert:

I ordered directly from eman and did not have a good experience. the reason I custom order costumes is because I HAVE to - I can rarely find ready-made costumes in my size.

my costume took six months and many, many nagging emails to arrive.

after shipping and wire transfer fees, it would have ultimately cost less to order it from dahal during customer appreciation month.

worst: it was the wrong size and unwearable. shipping it back to be fixed would have added, what, another six months and a ton more in shipping fees so it wasn't worth it. thank goodness I was able to sell it (at a loss).

leila usually has *one* costume in the box when she comes through town that fits me, and it costs so much less than buying direct, so that's what I do. if I did want to order a specific style, though, I'd probably go through cairo couture. if you go through a middleman, at least THEY are the ones who have to make things right if the costume comes in wrong.

i tried to order but after 2 emails there wasn't a reply.

It is not easy to order direct from Egypt for made to measure and end up with something perfect. If you do then it is sheer luck.
Some people are trying to develop this area and make it more professional but there are still some problems.
Eman rarely deals with email orders and is too busy to care most of the time.
It can work out a very expensive mistake. many egyptian costumers do not want the hassle of internet orders and they dont have organised systems to cope with it.
Then they get people ordering saying.. 'I want this in turnip colour with banana not lemon coloured beads with green stitching and the bra like this and the skirt like that etc..' I have seen this many times just hanging around these places.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

i know that shaunte of cairocouture deals with her directly. i've had custom orders done through shaunte by eman and they were perfect.
she's on bhuz so you may want to contact her and see what she says. her website is www.cairocouture.com

Originally Posted by damiena

I ordered from her sister, Hoda, a few years ago. The costume was less expensive than going through Dahlal, but I had to wire the money over and was charged a hefty fee from my bank and the shipping charges were about 70 so it ended up being close to the same amount, when it was all said and done. But, I had a specific design in mind, based on a costume a friend had made while she was in Egypt and it was a design that I did not see on Dahlal's site for another year and a half. My costume arrived exactly as ordered.

Would you know how to Contact Hoda Zaki? I also PM'd you, thanks.

I ordered a custom Eman last year through Dahlal and, yes, there were "creative liberties." Instead of a nice demi bra like I saw in the catalog, it came back with a Dina bra. It was also a few sizes too big for me ..cr.:

At first, I thought this was a problem with Dahlal. Now, it looks like ordering from Eman might be sort of a crapshoot whether you go direct or through a distributor. Bummer.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I ordered a custom Eman last year through Dahlal and, yes, there were "creative liberties." Instead of a nice demi bra like I saw in the catalog, it came back with a Dina bra. It was also a few sizes too big for me ..cr.:

At first, I thought this was a problem with Dahlal. Now, it looks like ordering from Eman might be sort of a crapshoot whether you go direct or through a distributor. Bummer.

I was thinking to order something from her but now it looks like it is not worth the risk. Thanks everyone!!

For Eman, it really is better to buy ready-made than special order. You never know when you'll get it (if at all) or what it'll look like.

Believe me, I LOVE the Zaki sisters. Momo and I count them as part of our family in Egypt, but they are soooooooooooooooooo busy that it's tough to get special orders done in a timely and efficient way... and then some random dancer will come through their shop and see this special order costume and want to buy it from them on the spot. Unfortunately, it's difficult for them to say no to this.

Consider how close we are to them and hubby's influence.... I ordered a costume almost a year ago and still haven't received it. I've decided to write it off as a lost cause.

It's ok. I still love them!

uuggh a whole year. I have heard many sob stories like this.

..cr.: Oh no! I had no idea it was like this! I ordered the “oceana” model by email on March 14th and a certain Sara? is the one who answers me... she promised it would be done by the end of this month I really hope I'm a lucky case!!!
I don’t want to be disappointed cuz of bad service again!
If they are too busy they should just write back and say that they are too busy! Geezzz! ,f::

Originally Posted by salomestar

..cr.: Oh no! I had no idea it was like this! I ordered the “oceana” model by email on March 14th and a certain Sara? is the one who answers me... she promised it would be done by the end of this month I really hope I'm a lucky case!!!
I don’t want to be disappointed cuz of bad service again!
If they are too busy they should just write back and say that they are too busy! Geezzz! ,f::

Well speak of the devil! I just got an email from Sara saying that my costume is ready and should be ship to me via Fedex next week!

Guess I got worried for nothing! ,r:;
Keeping my fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly til the end....

Originally Posted by salomestar

Well speak of the devil! I just got an email from Sara saying that my costume is ready and should be ship to me via Fedex next week!

Guess I got worried for nothing! ,r:;
Keeping my fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly til the end....

Is this costume from Eman or Hoda? I get the impression that dealing with Hoda is a safer bet.

Salomestar if you don't mind, please update us on your new Zaki costume when it arrives!

Originally Posted by lmargaretdancer

Is this costume from Eman or Hoda? I get the impression that dealing with Hoda is a safer bet.

Salomestar if you don't mind, please update us on your new Zaki costume when it arrives!

The costume is an Eman. Sara mentionned that Eman was moving in a new studio so there were some delays...

I let you know how things go!

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

uuggh a whole year. I have heard many sob stories like this.

This really doesn't sound uncommon. It took me over 9 months to get mine

Uggg well I guess I was not spared... ,f::

Two emails to Eman, still no news and still no costume.... should of asked here on Bhuz before ordering. This is my 1st time ordering an Eman, don't feel like doing it again...