Sales of warm clothes increase as winter almost arrives

As the mercury has started falling at the advent of winter, winter cloth trade has gathered momentum in the capital’s clothing markets and elsewhere in the country.

While visiting different markets and makeshift shops on the footpaths on Monday, The Business Post correspondent found buyers are flocking to winter clothing stores in the capital.

During the visit, it was seen that the shopping centres in the capital particularly the New Market, Gausia, Noorjahan Mansion, Chandni Chawk, Chandrima Super Market, Bongo Bazar and Mirpur Co-operative Market are overcrowd where the sale of warm clothes has gained momentum.

While talking to The Business Post, most of the traders said that they are used to waiting for December and January each year to sell warm clothes. However, they are happy to see a rising trend in the sale of warm clothes just before the start of the winter.

Apart from different festivals like Eid, the winter season is expected to be the busiest trading session for the clothing traders, they said.

Different parts of the country including Dhaka have been witnessing light to moderate rainfall since Saturday morning due to the fresh low pressure area lying over Bay of Bengal.

Consequently, gloomy and wet weather greeted Dhaka since then, after three hours of light showers in large parts.

Due to November rain by surprise, day temperature has also begun to fall across the country, which may continue to fall by 1-3 degrees over the country, according to the weather department.

Saifur Rahman, a wholesaler at Gulistan market said, “We are happy to see a rising trend in the sale of warm clothes just before the start of the winter.”

Buyers and sellers were seen walking around different areas of Dhaka, starting from the sidewalks and shopping carts filled with warm clothes.

The entire footpath from Newmarket-Nilkhet intersection to Science lab-Elephant Road is totally occupied by hawkers. The foot over bridges were also occupied by them.

On the other hand, the hawkers have set up shops at all the places under the Farmgate foot over bridge. Currently, full-sleeve warm T-shirts, shawls, warm caps, jackets, denim shirt, blankets, woolen sweaters, cardigans, jumpers, jackets, blankets, scarves, socks and gloves are available in the market.

Besides, the imported clothes were also selling alongside the locally-made clothes like jackets, jumpers, hoodies and other cloths as well.

While talking to Shamima Akhter, who came to New Market to buy winter clothes along with her two teenage daughters said, “I will buy warm clothes for my kids and gloves and socks for my mother.” But the shopkeepers are asking higher prices, she complained.

A shopkeeper at Gawsia Market said: “As the sale of winter clothes has gained momentum, we are also quite happy with our everyday sale.”