Slump in Eid orders leaves Dhaka tailors glum-faced

Tailors usually have a hectic time during Ramadan to make dresses for the Eid-ul-Fitr, but this year the business is slow thanks to a drastic cut in orders.

They generally stop taking orders mid-Ramadan due to excessive pressure, but this time around they were taking orders on Monday, the 18th day of Ramadan.

Tailors at Dhaka’s New Market, Gausia, Chandni Chowk, Farmgate and Mirpur appeared to be frustrated.

They said late payment of salary and festival allowances in offices caused the drop in orders.

Cutting master ‘Shyamal’ of Shotorupa Tailors at Gausia said orders began to come in from the 10th of Ramadan.

Several stores of Ismail Mansion at Gausia except two or three shops were taking orders.

Md Khorshed Alam, owner of Square Fashion Tailors, blames late payment for a slump in orders.  

“Ramadan began from May 18. But people will get their money in the beginning of this month (June). That is why business is bad.”

He also blamed the rise of readymade garment shops for poor returns from their business.

“Most of the people are going to purchase gorgeous readymade dresses,” he said.

The customers, however, said they were preferring readymade dresses to tailored ones due to exorbitant charges by dressmakers.

Roksana Zaman, who came to make her clothes at Ismail Mansion, told bdnews24.com that the tailors were charging Tk 400 to Tk 600 each for sewing a dress from textiles bought for as much money.

Proprietor ‘Jashim’ is working at Ismail Mansion for 28 years. Most of his customers are permanent. He said his business is not so bad but he is seeing fewer customers than before.

He argued that they were charging much due to rise in the cost of ‘everything’.

The tailors of Farmgate and Mirpur are also experiencing a slump in business.

“It seems we have to continue taking orders until the last day of Ramadan to make up for the sluggish business,” said proprietor ‘Alam’ of Shuvo Master Tailors and Fabrics at Farmgate Super Market.

Idris Ali makes dresses for both male and female clients at Nakshi Tailors at Mirpur-12.

He said male customers are few and far between this year than female ones. There have been no orders for punjabi, shirt and pants at most of the stores.