Eid sales picked up at shopping malls in the capital on Friday with a stunning new collection of elegant dresses for fashion lovers.
A spot visit to different shopping centres found traders dealing with customers with a wide array of exclusive collections on display at their outlets.
Womenswear comes in countless fabric varieties like tissue print, karchupi net, pearl net and sequence net which are in high demand among females.
Those who usually do not prefer ready-made dresses are buying these chic clothes as their special Eid wear.
Besides, trendy outfits like garara, sharara and gown with koti have gained wide currency among shoppers.
Nahid Hasan, manager of Joyita Fabrics at Chandni Chowk market, said his best-seller is tissue print dress as its price is reasonable but look is gorgeous.
A customer can buy one gauge tissue print with Tk 250-500 from his shop, he mentioned.
Mr Hasan is also selling other stylish items like karchupi net, pearl net and organdie cotton with lace at Tk 500-1,500 per gauge.
When asked, he said their sales virtually began on Friday, the weekend holiday.
"We'll do a roaring trade in the coming days ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr festival," the official went on to say.
Mohammad Yunus, manager of Jorighor at Gausia Market, said they have a good collection of garara.
The fashionable item, imported from India, is selling at a price range from Tk 3,500 to Tk 6,000 each.
Jorighor also sells four-piece gown suit at Tk 3,000-4,000.
Customers browse chic dresses for celebrating Eid, Mr Yunus said, adding: "But we also sell medium-price womenswear for budget buys."
Many buyers visit shops for lower-priced clothes for their loving ones, he cited.
Copied garments are also in demand because of lower prices. Such dresses are basically locally made but designs are taken from Indian or Pakistani dresses.
Roni Garments and Shumina Garments, who trade in children's apparel at Gausia market, have showcased a collection of colourful party wear for kids.
"Our dresses have been manufactured locally, but fabrics and other accessories are imported from China," said Faisal Ahmed, a salesperson of Roni Garments.
The prices are varying from Tk 500 to Tk 2,000 for each dress at these shops.
Mr Ahmed, however, said their sales are still to pick up as many are still roaming before they choose to buy.
Besides, competition is also stiff for a large number of shopping malls elsewhere in the city. So, customers are reluctant to go too far for Eid buys, he observed.
Soleman Rifat at Priyangon market said his sales have been declining for the past three to four years.
He blamed easy access to Indian visa for this slack business. Many people nowadays go to Kolkata for shopping.
A big number of shops are thus getting a small number of customers, Mr Rifat argued.
He sells panjabi and unstitched womenswear. He sells brasso cotton, silk, soft katan-made panjabi at Tk 1,000-1,200 each.
"We can make a little profit after meeting shop rent and wages of workers," the trader said.
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