Eid shopping to gain momentum from Friday

Markets and shopping malls in Dhaka are ready to embrace shopping just a few weeks ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest Muslim festival at the end of holy Ramadan.

Untimely rain and hot summer day have affected the Eid Bazar this year. Businessmen, however, are expecting to witness rush of Eid-shoppers from today (Friday).

Keeping in mind of ongoing summer, designers have brought a wide range of variety in colours and designs for fashion apparel geeks this Eid. 

Shoppers of different ages on Thursday were seen to look for unique cuts, designs and colours in dresses in different shopping complexes and boutique houses in different locations in Dhaka including Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Banani, Wari, Gulshan and Shahbagh.

They said, they found the traditional designs of local fashion houses more attractive.

Zakia Mousita, such a customer at Nabarupa outlet in Wari, said, “Traditional Salwar Kameez is always trendy and comfortable. That is why I am looking for a unique salwar kameez.”

Country’s leading fashion houses have come up with a wide range of designs applying handloom cotton, voile, georgette and other fabrics featuring salwar-kameez and sarees for women and Panjabi, shirt, t-shirts are for men.

Shahin Ahmed, the chief executive officer of country’s reputed fashion brand Anjan’s said, people are more likely to buy traditional dresses of handloom fabrics and trendy designs due to hot summer.

Anjan’s this year has created their Eid collection for women in cotton, voile and georgette fabrics keeping summer in mind.

The Eid-fashion trend for men this year is long and embroidered regular-fit Panjabis, he said.

Khalid Mahmood Khan of another leading fashion house Kay Kraft said, they are offering a wide array of collection in Eid giving priority to the season and weather.

Designers have chosen bright and bold colours such as blue, green, magenta combined with red, orange, yellow, maroon and many more in their products.

The designs are mostly in embroidery, motifs, Karchupi work on Salwar Kameez and saree.

Fashion house Rang has created theme-based designs for the Eid, namely Islamic, geometric and floral design, said its chief executive Soumik Das.

Soumik said, “We work hard throughout the year expecting higher sales on the eve of Eid.” 

Yamin Parvez, the coordinator of Deshi Dosh, comprising 10 local fashion houses, said the sales in first week of Ramadan were dull due to the inclement weather.

“We are expecting sales boom from Friday. Let’s see what it turns to,” Yamin said.

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Farjana Liakat.