DOT Desk: Around 50 national and international outlets are selling women’s clothing
Local and foreign clothing is attracting many visitors, especially women, at the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF), reports The Dhaka Tribune.
Items such as Jamdani sarees, handloom sarees, Kashmiri shawls, and local ready-made clothing are in high demand and selling well. AM Rafiqullah, manager of Dress Line, said they are focusing on showcasing locally-produced outfits for women like salwar kameez sets, fatua, kurti, and other items.
“We have a stall this time to introduce and promote our products to the customers,” he said, adding, so far, sales figures have been satisfactory.
Female customers told the Dhaka Tribune that the prices of different clothing items at brand outlets are always high, but they can be found at the fair at discounted rates.
Around 50 national and international stalls are selling women’s outfits and catering to a variety of buyers. Jalil, managing director of Classical Home Tex Industries Ltd, said the bed sheets in his stall are being sold at a wide price range, between Tk200-25,000. Foreign clothing is imported from countries like India, China, Korea, Thailand, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, and prices range between Tk1,600-5,000. However, there is some exceptional dresses sold for as much as Tk22,000.
However, some foreign traders are not satisfied with the shopping habits of local customers at the fair.
One Khurshed Ahmed, manager of Saba Arts and Crafts, came from Kashmir. He said business was slow. “If you say the price is Tk3,000, customers start from Tk800. It is really shocking.”
Tanvir, a salesman, said most of his stall’s clothing items were imported from China. They are selling Chinese hijabs, skirts, and shawls for between Tk100-200.
Sumi Akhter, an undergraduate student, said that due to fashion trends, many are coming to the fair in search of local attires, as well as western ones.
Mafruha Begum, a housewife from Dhaka’s Mohammadpur, said she came with her family in search of indigenous clothing items. According to her, the items are difficult to find in the capital’s shopping malls and hence DITF is an ideal place to find, choose, and purchase them.
Many vendors were seen hawking clothing items outside the stalls.
Several women involved in the cottage industry are also getting opportunities to showcase their products at the trade fair.
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