Hunt for Eid fabric and tailoring problem

One of the most exciting parts of Eid shopping is the hunt for dress materials. Despite the price hikes and ever-increasing inflation, the irresistible fascination for preparing new clothes for Eid has not died down. Women start scrutiny of the new arrivals to choose the colours they want to sport on the days of Eidul Fitr.
In the markets located in almost all localities of the city, tailors are working from dawn to dusk with a very short break every day in Ramazan. “It is one of the most stressful times for us but it is also the most profitable,” said Nafasat Hussain, a tailor in Moti Bazaar.
“I am already facing huge orders, so my workers and I are forced to work round the clock to finish the orders. With Eid around the corner, customers are pushing us to prepare their Eid clothes as soaring prices of readymade garments continue to affect the purchasing power of the people. Readymade clothes cost almost three times more than tailored, thus we have rush at our shop,” said Riaz, a famous tailor in Satellite Town.
On a different note, a number of workers claimed of being underpaid. “Despite working at the popular spot, I am not being paid a handsome amount to save something to spend Eid with my family members in Bahawalpur,” complained Sajjad Naqi, a worker.
“I am still facing the risk of not having my clothes prepared before Eid. I have visited several tailoring shops but was unable to find anyone ready to take an order. If I fail to get my clothes tailored, I will have to get a readymade dress on Chaand Raat,” said Inam Ali, an employee of a housing society administration.
“Soaring fees of tailor shops are quite irritating. Last year, stitching of a suit cost Rs 300-350 but now it is Rs1000-1800,” said Aleena Ali, an advertising agency worker, adding that there is no mechanism to fix prices. Tailors are taking advantage of Eid to exploit customers. Actually they are aware of the fact that they are going to get orders no matter how much they charge at this time of the year."
“I acknowledge the problem, but it is the peak season for us. The inflation accompanied by sudden increase in prices of all commodities has forced us as well to increase the tailoring rate,” said Aneeq Hassan, a tailor near Hathi Chowk.
Most Pindiites get the dresses done from the fixed tailors of their localities.
Ruqaya Bibi said: “I don’t mind even going to the remote market as I look for a good tailor who can do the design perfectly. I start looking for materials two and a half month before Eid because that gives me enough time to choose the material and design I want among the various options in markets. Once I am done with the purchase of dress material, I go straight to the selected tailor.”
Eshaal Asad, from Bahria Town said: “For my children Eid outfits I usually need more time. So, even before Ramazan, I give the materials to tailors to make them ready for us by the middle of the holy month. This saves me the trouble of facing any kind of tailoring fault that may happen when tailors urgently try to finish the bookings they have before Eid.”
“It is very important to give children new clothes well before Eid, otherwise, they get disappointed,” added Eshaal.