Thread: Custom Hanan?

Just wondering if anyone has experience with a custom order from Hanan Mahmoud. I've been in touch with her, and I'm pretty close to being ready to order a costume from her. I've never done a custom order before- all of my costumes are either from Dahlal or Bhuz. So, I thought I'd ask if anyone has any experience with ordering direct from Hanan. Things I'm wondering about: about how long it took, if it was pretty close to the design you wanted, if the sizing was accurate- things like that. Anyone?

BTW, here's the costume I'm interested in, but in turquoise and silver, rather than red and gold (I already have 2 red costumes). Very simple, but pretty.

8

Thanks!

Originally Posted by amarasdance

Just wondering if anyone has experience with a custom order from Hanan Mahmoud. I've been in touch with her, and I'm pretty close to being ready to order a costume from her. So, I thought I'd ask if anyone has any experience with ordering direct from Hanan. Things I'm wondering about: about how long it took, if it was pretty close to the design you wanted, if the sizing was accurate- things like that. Anyone?

I placed a custom order with her when I was in Egypt this summer. I saw her in person, so she was able to take my measurements herself, and I was able to point to actual fabrics and colors right there in her showroom saying, "This fabric in this color", "this color of sequins," "this dress style", and so on.

My feedback - the costume was stunning. Here's a photo:



All the details were precisely correct - the fabric, the style, the colors. The bustline came out too big even though she measured me in person by placing her hands right smack on my breasts. ..g.: But I can pad it.

She promised it in "a month", and it actually took 6 weeks to come. I was okay with that timing.

All in all, the experience was positive for me, and I would do it again.

I placed a custom order with Hannan for a dress, through Dahlal. My dress came in 11 months later, after I'd lost 20 pounds and bought a different dress. I was told my dress was part of the first custom order they'd ever actually RECEIVED from her, and they were surprised it came in at all. I don't think I'll be doing it again.

I haven't placed a custom order with her but do have two Hanan's and love them both. The way she rouches her fabric makes for a great fit.

I've emailed back and forth with her about placing a custom order, but I need to wait a while and decide on what I'd like. She was wonderful over email and very professional. It's always worth a try!

Let us know how things turn out if you do get one directly ..g.:

Oh man she has some fabulous costumes on her site.

I have a gorgeous custom Hannan that I bought from another dancer who had done exactly like Shira and gone to her studio and picked out everything she wanted. I do not have an hourglass figure, but the design of the decoration on the dress draws an hourglass on my bod.

Souzan

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I
My feedback - the costume was stunning. Here's a photo:



.

Shira, those colors are extremely flattering to your complexion... do you mind if I ask the price range for Hanan's costumes, when purchased in Egypt?

Originally Posted by lotus

Shira, those colors are extremely flattering to your complexion... do you mind if I ask the price range for Hanan's costumes, when purchased in Egypt?

Thanks for the compliment! Yes, I'm very fond of wearing those particular colors!

I paid $450 for that burgundy-and-dusty-rose one when I ordered it in June 2008, and placed my order at the Ahlan wa Sahlan festival. That's also what I paid for a second, ready-to-wear dress that she had in her showroom.

In 2006, I paid $450 for another fabulous Hanan dress at the beginning of the Ahlan wa Sahlan festival. That seemed to be the price she was charging for all the dresses, for the most part. Then, I returned to her showroom on the final day of the festival and found that she had marked down most of her merchandise to get rid of it before all the festival-goers went home, and got a second fabulous dress that had been listed at $450 originally and was now marked down to $250.

This was the one I paid $450 for in 2006 at the beginning of the Ahlan wa Sahlan festival:



(It's the same dress I was wearing for the photo that's currently on the home page of Belly Dancing -- Art Of Middle Eastern Dance -- Bellydancing in Iowa City )

This was the one I paid $250 for on the final day of the 2006 Ahlan wa Sahlan festival, after she marked everything down:

Thanks for the feedback, ladies! I'm going to go ahead with the order (I WILL post feedback about the experience), but I'm going to wait a couple of weeks, buy one more costume before I order from Hanan (hopefully), and (again, hopefully) sell at least 1, so as not to go too terribly into debt. Although, I don't think I actually pay her until the costume is completed- I emailed her to confirm that a few minutes ago.

So far, my experience is: in emails, she is fantastic. Not a huge English vocabulary (I'd say better than my almost-5 year old, but not by too much), but she is very respectful, gets back to me quicker than I expected, and she says it'll only take her 3 weeks to complete the costume (even if it's a few weeks longer, that's still pretty good, IMO).

Now my next question- for anyone in the US who's ordered a costume from Egypt before- about how much is customs? (Trying to estimate how much it'll cost above and beyond the purchase price- I'm including shipping, the fee to wire her the money, and customs, but I haven't a clue how much that costs.)

Hey Amara..

How did it go? I am looking to order a custom Hanan this week. :-)

yeah, how did it go?

i was wondering if anyone ever ordered a bra/belt set from her?
seen a couple i really liked but not in size/color that would fit me, and the prices she seems to be asking are really decent enough for me to consider... (for dresses anyway. anyone know how much she asks for bedleh?)

kathiya- you can email her directly and ask her yourself. she's a very sweet lady

Originally Posted by zfejzic

kathiya- you can email her directly and ask her yourself. she's a very sweet lady

lol yeah, i figure, but i feel uncomfortable asking a professional for price quoting or whatnot if i have no real intention of giving them business any time pretty soon ^^ i'd rather have a vague idea of what to save up to, and when i get there, start talking business lol. feels like otherwise i'm wasting their time / giving false hopes..
maybe that's stupid, but yeah... ^^

Originally Posted by Kathiya

lol yeah, i figure, but i feel uncomfortable asking a professional for price quoting or whatnot if i have no real intention of giving them business any time pretty soon ^^ i'd rather have a vague idea of what to save up to, and when i get there, start talking business lol. feels like otherwise i'm wasting their time / giving false hopes..
maybe that's stupid, but yeah... ^^

yah i know what u mean. i feel that way sometimes too but hey, how else would u know how much to save up for? lol
for reference, she charges about $100 or so less than dahlal for full costumes, which shipping included. if u custom order one i mean. dahlal sells her bedlahs for almost $300 so i'm thinking she charges somewhat less for that as well. i ordered a bedlah through dahlal (i used my winter coupon :) ) before i knew u could just contact her directly, pay less, and have it within a month. (actually i'm sure it woudl have been the same $$ since i used me coupon lol)
but u get the idea.

sweet!
thanks for the info hun :)
(which did you buy? :D )

Originally Posted by Kathiya

sweet!
thanks for the info hun :)
(which did you buy? :D )

this gorgeous teal & orange beauty called 'tahitian dreams'. scroll down to page 3, it's the 3rd one in the last row. can't wait to get it (it should be done by may) :)
https://www.dahlal.com/PDF/ith_may2008.pdf

sweet!!
i want something like Pastel Perfection (1st page) but not in those colors, and without the diagonal bra strap.

Originally Posted by Kathiya

sweet!!
i want something like Pastel Perfection (1st page) but not in those colors, and without the diagonal bra strap.

cute! in what colors? i actually love crazy straps like that hehe

heh me too, especially the waist straps, but i don't have a large enough chest (ie: tiny boobs ^^ ) to carry off the bra strap. would just make me look even smaller lol. looks kick-ass on bustier gals though!
colors, prolly tealy-turquoisy-purply colors... don't quite know actually ^^ but i'm all into those at the mo. or maybe in the coppery-chocolate tones. hesitating...

Originally Posted by ravenadesigns

Hey Amara..

How did it go? I am looking to order a custom Hanan this week. :-)

Well, actually...I never did place the order. I meant to, I had the money, but for some reason, I never did. I do plan to order one from her sometime, but I got a couple costumes on the swapmeet, and just today bought a new one from bellydancestore, so that was every penny that I had. Hanan's costumes are really nice, and buying it from her, the price can't be beat. I did try on a couple of Hanan's when Debbie and Josh (Dahlal) were here this past weekend, and one of the skirts was pretty much exactly what I was going to order from Hanan. The waist straps really aren't flattering on me, but the cut of the skirt was really cute, and I loved the little hip cutouts (although underwear challenging). But I do plan to order one from Hanan sometime, but it will have to wait at least a few months, unless I decide to sell something (or the bellydancestore one doesn't work out). The last time Hanan and I exchanged emails, she was very understanding that I wasn't ready to place the order- she kept saying anytime, it doesn't have to be soon- she's a really sweet lady and I want to give her my business. I'll just have to have money first.

Originally Posted by zfejzic

kathiya- you can email her directly and ask her yourself. she's a very sweet lady

how long does she typically take to answer an email?

Every time I've contacted her it's been more than a few days, but less than a week. Actually, I think it was more than a week one time, but she apologized.

I've never done a custom order and always turned up in person to buy from Hanan, but I just wanted to say she is a lovely person, and she treats her staff & customers very well. It really feels like a family business. Its just a lovely atmosphere to buy your goodies in.

Originally Posted by Kathiya

how long does she typically take to answer an email?

she usually answers pretty quickly. she's always answered mine within a day or so

I ordered a custom Hanan through Dahlal in January of 2008 and paid it off around May and still do not have it!!!!!! I was told by Dahlal staff that Dahlal received it and the skirt was too small and she personally took it back to Hanan in July to be remade, but then it got to be close to Ramandan - upshot was that in December the skirt was send and STILL too small so again, Dahlal took it back to Hanan in January 2009 - I checked in February and they were hoping that it would be done by March. I was told it is not a problem with getting fabric or trim - it's just not being made in size I ordered.

I love the costume, it is called "Paramour" and isn't on Dahlal's site anymore -so I can't show it but it was a shimmery crimson lycra skirt/belt combination with matching bra. It had turquoise beaded accents and lots of shimmery rhinestones running in lines on the bra and the "belt" had lots of matching beading front and back, which is why I wanted it in the first place.

*sigh* I won't order custom from Hanan again even though her costumes are gorgeous. Of course if she can't do it, I can get credit at Dahlal, but haven't seen a costume like it so it's been a real frustration, although t he staff at Dahlal are very responsible and professional in their responses when I call *every* month.

I'll keep you all posted!

Originally Posted by Nisima

I ordered a custom Hanan through Dahlal in January of 2008 and paid it off around May and still do not have it!!!!!! I was told by Dahlal staff that Dahlal received it and the skirt was too small and she personally took it back to Hanan in July to be remade, but then it got to be close to Ramandan - upshot was that in December the skirt was send and STILL too small so again, Dahlal took it back to Hanan in January 2009 - I checked in February and they were hoping that it would be done by March. I was told it is not a problem with getting fabric or trim - it's just not being made in size I ordered.

I love the costume, it is called "Paramour" and isn't on Dahlal's site anymore -so I can't show it but it was a shimmery crimson lycra skirt/belt combination with matching bra. It had turquoise beaded accents and lots of shimmery rhinestones running in lines on the bra and the "belt" had lots of matching beading front and back, which is why I wanted it in the first place.

*sigh* I won't order custom from Hanan again even though her costumes are gorgeous. Of course if she can't do it, I can get credit at Dahlal, but haven't seen a costume like it so it's been a real frustration, although t he staff at Dahlal are very responsible and professional in their responses when I call *every* month.

I'll keep you all posted!

spin-off started: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...tml#post364952

ZOMBIE THREAD!!!!!!!!!!! Wooooooooooooo....

Anyone care to share some more experiences since this thread left off? I'm really thinking of selling my midnight blue Hanan to get a new one custom made with a much smaller bra...,r:;

How's her pricing for Lycra bra-and-skirt sets?