Dubai: Youngsters are finding themselves in a quandary these days on their consumer choices — are clothes more important to buy on weekend outings at the mall or is it all about splurging on new gizmos?

For teenagers in the United States, being up to date with technology has become more important than keeping up with the latest clothing cues, but for youngsters in the UAE it’s not yet clear whether the draw of electronic gadgets has come to overshadow the traditional choice of fashionable clothes.

A recent report published by the The New York Times talks about how teenagers’ tastes in the US have changed over the years, with many choosing to have the latest gizmos over a new pair of jeans or a nice-looking shirt.

According to the report, many clothing stores have witnessed a slump in their sales due to this major shift in teenage trends. Most teenagers commented on how having new clothes is no longer satisfying as having “a new phone that can do lots of cool stuff unlike clothing.”

Others commented on how they no longer needed to shop at malls because smartphones allowed them to shop easily online.

The case is not exactly the same in the UAE. There’s a clear split between youngsters in schools and universities here when it comes to making a choice between clothes or getting their hands on the latest phone or tablet. One section of the youth reflect the trend in the US, while the other group feels that clothes say a lot more about oneself and that as long as a gadget is functioning well, there’s no need to change it.

“Your phone is for you and your clothes are for people, so I would rather have the latest smartphone that can do everything than having new clothes to show people,” said Rima Seklani, 17, from Libya, who studies at the American University in Dubai.

“Having a new phone is like having a new window to the world, getting to know new updates and different things you can do with it, you could buy millions of clothes using your phone at your house. Anything you can use is on your phone these days,” she said.

Another student of the same university who is studying computer engineering said his choice came down to his interest in new technology, especially when it comes to phones. He said he likes testing his programming skills on the devices. Richard Novena, 18, from the Philippines, explained: “I’m not into clothes. I have enough clothes and I can just inherit my uncle’s clothes even if they’re old. But, when it comes to the latest gadgets, I like tinkering with them and trying to figure out how they work, how to customise them for myself, and learn how to use them to connect with my family who live overseas.”

Novena added that although he can’t afford a new phone, he is extremely interested in some high-tech phones since they would allow him to customise his own software, thus offering him an opportunity to start earning.

But there are many youngsters who insist that it makes no sense glossing over the latest fashion trends in favour of technology.

Abeer Al Mouaqqet, a student of the American University in Sharjah, considers herself a fashion addict who would never give up shopping for clothes just to get the latest iPhone.

“I have a tablet and I have a working phone, I don’t understand why I need to change them every time something new is out. I always try to stay up to date with fashion because I like dressing up and having new things,” she said.

She said that she has different gadgets at home that she barely uses, so she says there’s no point of upgrading.

Emmanuel Del Isaac, Nigerian, 19, agrees with Al Mouaqqet when it comes to choosing clothes over technology. He thinks it is ridiculous for people to choose the latest phone over apparel, especially if their existing phone is in order.

“Clothes are part of our needs, and I find it ridiculous for people to choose wants over needs. Every now and then we need to upgrade our wardrobe because clothes stop fitting us,” he said.