Weather change: Demand for warm clothes spikes in twin cities

ISLAMABAD: Though the capital may have ‘weathered’ the bid for political change, the weather has changed, and so have dressing trends in the twin cities.

When the trees wear fall colours, the markets switch inventory with changing fashion.

New seasons are welcomed in different ways the world over. Designers introduce new clothing lines, flower shops overhaul their inventories and stock species that can resist cold, food outlets introduce foods to warm your insides and so on.



The streets in the markets are flooded with carts of second-hand winter wear for the same reasons. Imported sweaters, jackets and coats have price tags that are far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens, while the quality of locally-made clothing is not even good enough, according to some, to last a single winter.

“I have made several trips to the Sunday market in G-6 and have checked out several roadside carts as well in order to get a few sweaters for the cold season. Instead of buying cheap Chinese merchandise, I would rather buy used, branded western clothes,” which according to pizza delivery man Salman, outlast the former.

Woollies in demand

Demand for woollies has spiked in Rawalpindi and Islamabad with abrupt change in weather. Though days are sunny, evenings are cold in step with the autumn chill.

And to cash in on the seasonal demand, a number of stalls have sprouted at Aabpara market, G-9 Markaz, commercial market and Rawalpindi Saddar.

Winter gear including wool caps, gloves and mufflers are high in demand, a stall holder said.



Shopkeepers, taking full advantage of the situation, were selling warm clothing at high profit, knowing the fact that people were bound to buy their merchandise.

“I have every kind of warm clothing, but mostly people buy wool caps,” a shopkeeper at Aabpara  market said.

Shopper Ayesha Khan said, “After the sudden change in weather, I went to a local market to buy warm clothes for myself and my children, and I noticed that the prices were higher than last year.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2016.