Handmade embroidery: A growing business in the darkest of days

Designers outsource work to skilled embroiders in rural areas.


Imran Rana February 25, 2012

FAISALABAD:


The business of handmade embroidery has managed to flourish at a time when almost every small and large industry is having a hard time surviving with the severe energy shortage. Handmade embroidery has not only managed to stay on its feet but also become a source of handsome earnings for skilled workers in rural areas.


Shabeer Ali, an embroidery expert, says that the decline in businesses due to energy crisis has not hurt his business. Ali said there were hundreds of boutiques selling these products mostly made by women from rural areas.

He said these dresses take a month to reach the stores and boutiques which are then sold at phenomenal prices.

Handmade embroidery makes a simple dress fancy and attractive. The work of gold and silver embroidery on bridal dresses is very popular, said Rashid another embroidery worker.

An embroiderer can get Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 for a single bridal dress, he added.

Najma Ali who works from home told The Express Tribune that she earns Rs20,000 per month with ease by embroidering bridal dresses sent from designers in the city. These designers from the city pick and drop dresses for embroidery sent to rural areas in the outskirts of Faisalabad.

Boutiques owners told The Express Tribune that the buying power of people has been reduced because of inflation which has forced them to lower their profit margins.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2012.

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