The trend of wearing ready-made gents and children’s shalwar kameez has gained momentum in the last two to three years as they cost less than custom-made suits stitched by tailors.
Saddar’s Cooperative Market, the hub of ready-made shalwar kameez and mostly caters to the middle- and lower-middle income groups, is flooded with buyers these days.
Those who prefer to wear designers’ clothes usually avoid Cooperative Market as they can easily pay Rs3,200-3,600 for kurta, and Rs3,800-5,000 for shalwar kameez.
Opposite to Cooperative Market is Karim Centre which used to house around 50 tailor shops. But the situation has now changed as only five to seven gents’ tailors have managed to survive on its first floor.
After sharp drop in customers’ orders and high prices of stitching, many gents’ tailors have either given their shops on rent or converted them into ladies ready-made shalwar kameez outlets.
A shop owner in Karim Centre said he had let out his shop a year ago since the buyers had become reluctant to pay stitching cost of Rs600-800 per suit.
The stitching price for gents’ trousers also hovers at Rs600-800 and shirt at Rs500-600. Almost the same price is charged for kids stitching. Another reason of booming sale of ready-made shalwar kameez is poor stitching quality and substandard material used by tailors.
