Tailors jack up rates as demand skyrockets

Eye record profits on the back of festive season

RAWALPINDI:

With an uptick in demand for stitching clothes for the festive seasons of Easter and Eidul Fitr, tailors in the garrison city of Rawalpindi have jacked up prices for stitching clothes.

Bolstered by rising demand, the tailoring fee for men's suits has risen to Rs1,700. Usually, bookings continue until the 15th of Ramazan, after which bookings cease. Similarly, women in various neighbourhoods have seen an increase in suit stitching prices from Rs1,500 to Rs1,600, while higher-quality stitching with buckram and double stitching now costs Rs1,900, causing concerns among customers.

In the open market, prices of unstitched plain clothes have also reached their peak.

Like previous years, this year too the tailoring shops were seen overcrowded with customers to get their clothes stitched for Eid.

Comparing prices to last year's Ramazan, one can see tailoring fees increasing by Rs1,000 to Rs1,200.

The Christian community, gearing up for Easter celebrations on March 31, traditionally brings in men's and women's shalwar kameez suits for stitching in large quantities, marking a busy period for tailors. This trend extends into Eidul Fitr, further driving the demand for tailored clothing.

The anticipation of these festivals has prompted tailors to adopt round-the-clock services, with some operating in two shifts and hiring temporary help to manage the workload. Many tailors have expanded their services to include stitching shalwar for women and shirts for men, women, and children. This surge in demand has led to an increase in stitching rates, which are expected to reach Rs2,000, with higher rates for double stitching in the final week.

Aurangzeb Malik, Secretary of the Tailors Union in District Rawalpindi, explained that the rising costs of raw materials have contributed to a 500 per cent increase in sewing expenses. The use of good-quality buckram has become prohibitively expensive, impacting the overall cost of stitching. Despite the seasonal peaks during Eidul Fitr, Eid Miladun Nabi, and Eidul Azha, there is a noticeable slowdown during Eid al-Azha and Eid Milad.

Concerns about fair pricing have been raised by individuals like Muhammad Banaras, who believe that the current stitching rates, especially Rs1,700 for a shalwar kameez suit, are unjustified. Calls for the deputy commissioner to intervene and regulate stitching rates for men, women, and children's clothing reflect the community's concerns about affordability and fairness in tailoring services.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2024.