Inflation dims colours of Eid

Women compromise on shopping, go for unbranded items

KARACHI:

Bazaars and shopping malls are decorated with stalls of colourful bangles, but due to high inflation, the prices of bangles are beyond the purchasing power of the common consumer. Women have preferred glass and metal bangles this year to complete their Eid preparations so that they can be worn with different dresses.

According to the details, preparations for women's Eid have entered final stages and their Eid is incomplete without bangles. Keeping in mind new fashion and trends, steel, dot, metal, plastic work, metal, carved bangles, glass, glitter, velvet, and synthetic gold bangles are exciting to adorn their hands but due to inflation, women are doing limited shopping.

On the other hand, shopkeepers say that women are more interested in metal and glass bangles. Glass bangles are affordable while metal bangles can be worn with every suit.

Kamran Ahmed, a shopkeeper from Bohri Bazaar, said while talking to Express that glass bangles were Rs.50 per dozen but this year they have hit Rs.100 and now are being sold at Rs.200 while the worth of artificial gold bangles is doubled as they are being sold at Rs.500 now. Women are mostly making a set of multi-colored bangles to be worn with different colors.

While talking to Express, Arsalan, a shopkeeper at Jama Cloth Market, said that inflation is on the rise. Earlier women used to buy matching bangles according to the color and design of their dresses while this time the number of suits has decreased due to the affected purchasing power due to which jewelry is not among women's preferences this time. Arsalan added that there is a lot of variety of bangles, but the prices have doubled. The price of dotted bangles has increased from 100 to 200 rupees, shimmar and glitter bangles from 200 to 300, velvet bangles from 100 to 150 rupees, while double S glitter bangles which was Rs.80 is now available in the market at Rs.200.

Speaking to Express, 22-year-old Ramsha, a resident of Saddar, said that everyone tries to look different and unique on Eid. Similarly bangles are a part of our beautiful culture which doubles the joy of festival. Eid is the only time when she likes to wear bangles but she bought only glass bangles due to inflation as glass is available in every color and the price is reasonable too.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2024.