HYDERABAD: Eid shopping has gained momentum and is attracting customers mainly from outside Hyderabad city. The market trends are different, depending on the affordability of customers, and people find they have more choice in open markets compared to the city malls.
The main cloth market and its Resham Gali, is one such place which offers customers the luxury of bargaining. Though major shopping malls offer more variety in design and quality of clothes, there is no option to bargain.
Looking at general markets, especially the cloth market, raw cloth has a price range between Rs100 and Rs500 per meter for women wear. Seven metre suits on sale range from Rs700, Rs2,000 to Rs5,000.
The majority of women from all economic groups find cut-pieces (parts of dress) at specific shops to match the colours of their choice instead of buying complete suits from one shop in the market. The cut-pieces option also saves the cost.
The rates of clothes are high at shopping malls on Auto Bhan Road, some centres in Latifabad, and other areas, ranging from Rs3,000 to Rs18,000 per suit and in some conditions more than that.
Besides major and wide-ranging markets, some organisations and artisan groups also set up their display centres and exhibitions for Eid festival, where they display products, mainly cloth, khaddar, appliqué work, embroidered dresses, and ajraks made with natural dyes.
A recent two-day sale arranged by Aik Huner Aik Nagar (Ahan) at a local hotel attracted a large number of customers. But they were reluctant to buy the artwork at fixed prices.
The artisans claimed that despite offering a variety of designs, including those traditional ones that are suitable for the heat and fluctuating temperature of the region, they were unable to sell products due to the ‘bargaining habit’ of consumers.
Currently, as the shopping season is in full swing, markets are open from 1pm in the day to 1am in the night. However, the rush hours are 1pm to 10pm.
Women looking for new trendy outfits for themselves and their kids are the most dominant and frequent customers in shopping centres.
Each place and centre caters to a particular income group. Perhaps this is the reason that one cannot find a lot of people complaining about the prices of products.
Old Faqir jo Pir has its specific recognition for the lower middle income group who are looking for cheap priced clothes and accessories.
The poor costumers prefer buying cheaper clothes from this market, where suits are available at Rs50-Rs300 and more than Rs1500 there.
Crowds can also be seen at shops and roadside stores selling used clothing items.
In these markets, kids clothes also range between Rs50-Rs300.
The same clothes are sold at higher prices in other markets.
Children suits' cost also ranges from Rs50--300, it is up to the buyers. Otherwise, the same suits in other markets are most costly.
Similarly, a variety of cheap perfumes, cosmetics, jewellery, and accessories are available at these markets.
This market is for all times and people from all income groups visit to grab a good bargain. However, it remains a haven for the poor who can get the necessary at a more affordable price.
Apart from the shopping centres, open markets and bazaars, as well as the private exhibitions held by artisans and vendors, some customers also visit the homes of artisans to buy unique designs and clothes.
Bangle manufacturers, ordinary Sindhi cap makers, and shawl designers in low-income areas of the city usually supply their products to
the market on wholesale,
but on such occasions they have extra products for their customers visiting their homes, which are workplaces too.
There are around 400,000 women associated with the bangle industry, who work at homes.
Among them there are also a small number of artisans preparing caps and shawls to earn better livelihoods. Eid always brings prosperity to them to be happy and celebrate the occasion.