Unusually slow sales ahead of Eid worry Chattogram’s Khalifa Patti tailors

Despite producing new styles of clothing like the “parsi,” Khalifa Patti shops are seeing fewer customers for Eid than in prior years

With Eid around the corner, tailors at Chattogram’s Khalifa Patti are working on large collections of the Indian outfit “parsi”, along with their regular three-piece salwar kameez. But compared to other years, there seems to be less demand.

Factory worker Md Fahad said, “Usually buyers would shop here till late at night, but that has changed this year.”

The Khalifa Patti, next to Andarkilla in Chattogram city, is home to hundreds of small factories. The majority of the factories produce clothing of their own designs, with a heavy influence from trends in Indian and Pakistani fashion.

The majority of Khalifa Patti's clients are traders from clothing stores. The garments produced here go on sale in both large and small marketplaces and retail stores across the country, including the shopping malls in Chattogram, the three hill districts, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, Feni, Cumilla, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, and Sylhet.

In Chattogram, tailors, especially those involved in sewing, are referred to as "Khalifas". After the country was partitioned in 1947, a tailor named Ayub Ali Saudagar and a few others moved to Chattogram from Kolkata and began sewing at Ghatfarhadbeg. Over time, the region became known as Khalifa Patti.

According to factory owners and staff, Eid is their busiest time of year. The frenzy of sewing new clothes begins even before Ramadan. Staff work through the night to provide clients with Eid clothes. Some stitch, some iron, and some add lace and beads from the morning until late at night.

However, some store owners purchase clothes from other vendors and resell them too.

During a visit by this reporter to Khalifa Patti, it was evident that shops had stocked up on Eid clothing. Almost every store displayed the latest designs of “parsi”. The upper part of the outfit contains intricate beadwork, while the lower part resembles a palazzo, which is also embroidered.

Md Selim, the owner of Noor Fashion, told bdnews24.com: “This area primarily caters to wholesale buyers. Traders from various regions, including Chattogram, purchase clothes here at wholesale rates and resell them.”

He said, “Sales are usually better during Ramadan compared to other times of the year. However, this year, sales are lower than previous years.”

Indian "parsi" and frock-style kameez are in high demand this year, according to Selim, who also mentioned that the materials used to make these garments are imported from India. Khalifa Patti workers only sew the final dresses from imported material.

Shahidul Alam, a shopkeeper, said he used to sell clothing produced in his own factory, but nowadays he purchases clothes from outside and sells them in bulk.

"Typically, sales increase after the 10th or 15th day of Ramadan. But this year sales are not as high as before. However, I expect sales to increase after Ramadan 15," said Shahidul.

Saikat Garments worker Md Fahad said, “Although we are busy, there is less work this year compared to last year.”

His colleague Abdul Matin mentioned that they usually start work at 11am, continuing until Sehri in the early morning.

Tailors of all ages work in Khalifa Patti. Every year, during the busy Eid season, many “seasonal craftsmen” come to the area to join the permanent workers.

Normally, these seasonal tailors work in different parts of the country at other times of the year. However, they come to the port city as demand increases before Eid.

A tailor named Rafiq, who came from Savar, said: "There isn’t much work here throughout the year. During that time, I do small jobs in my area to make ends meet. Every year, I come to Chattogram a week before Shab-e-Barat. After Eid, I return home."