Tailor shops see no rush of customers ahead of Eid

Tailor shops usually see a rush of clients a month before every Eid. And the number of customers increases when Eid draws nearer. During this time, the employees at tailor shops do not have time to heave a sigh. Even the tailor shops stop taking new orders 10-12 days before Eid.

But this year is exception. With only seven days left for Eid, there is no rush of customers in small and big tailor shops. Branded tailor shops are still taking new orders.

Tailor shop owners and managers say that as the purchasing capacity of the people has reduced, their interest in tailored clothes is less this year. The common people now focus more on readymade clothes because of its cheap prices. Due to a decline in garment production, sales of fabrics have also decreased. The sellers claim that sales at many fabric stores have dropped by 50 per cent while big brand companies have reduced by 25-30 per cent.

During visit to various tailor shops at Bangabandhu Avenue, Elephant Road, Mouchak and other areas in the capital, it was found that there was less crowd although it was a public holiday. There was not much crowd as it was supposed on the occasion of Eid. Employees, including cutting masters of many shops, were seen spending time idly.

Various clothing fabrics, including boys’ shirts, pants, Punjabis, pajamas and girls’ salwar kameez are available in these shops but the sale of fabrics is not much, said the sellers. Many branded tailor shops are still able to take new orders and deliver before Eid, which was not possible last year.

While talking with The Business Post, In-Charge of Bel Monte Fabrics Elephant Road MD Kausar Ahmed Sifat said that despite the effect of Covid-19 last year, the amount of fabrics selling is less than 30 per cent this year. People are less inclined towards tailoring clothes to save costs. Also, many may have decided not to shop but later decide to buy some clothes on a low budget. They are no longer coming to tailor shops. But our readymade garments are selling slightly better. That is, people are more inclined towards readymade clothes

He said, ‘we can still take new orders and make clothes before Eid; this is possible because the tailors’ swingmen and cutting masters are not very busy’.

SM Obaidullah, owner of Elite Tailors, another tailor and fabric shop on Elephant Road said people are struggling to meet their basic needs. As a result, sales of luxury goods such as clothing have declined. Most of what is being sold is ready-made clothing. There was a time when Eid was actually celebrated with dresses made by tailors with fabrics of their choice. That trend is slowly decreasing. The main reason for this is the abnormal increase in the prices of daily commodities and the decrease in the purchasing power of people.

He claimed that this shop’s fabric sales have decreased by 70 per cent compared to last year.

However, the shopkeepers said that the price of fabrics and the wages of making clothes have not increased that much. They said that last year it took Tk300 to Tk3,000 to buy a shirt or a piece of pants in the shops; it is also the same in this year too. Besides, they claim that the price of cotton is unchangeable.