Fashion savvy at Sunday Bazaar

Big brands, big savings. That’s how it works at Karachi’s Sunday Bazaar.

For most women living in Pakistan, Sunday is a day to unwind and relax, perhaps with a family outing to a hip new restaurant or taking the children for a visit to their grandparents. For others, Sunday signifies a day for a brand haul for new items to be added to their ever-rotating fleet of designer bags and shoes.

They wake up every Sunday, put on their shopping shoes and hit 5th Avenue for their weekly appointments at top brand outlets there. Sorry, did I say 5th Avenue? I meant Sunday Bazaar, one of the largest thrift markets in Karachi.

If you are anything like me, you must be as confused as I was when I first heard of women purchasing designer bags from Sunday Bazaar, which essentially, is a flea market known for its cheap fruit and vegetable stalls. Little did we know that there is a section here — commonly known as lunda — that is home to some of the most fascinatingly convincing new, used and defected designer items from across the world. And by designer, I mean Louis Vuitton, Prada, Coach, Gucci, Micheal Kors and the likes!



Indeed, there was a time when this particular market catered to the working-classes who were unable to afford good quality clothes and other household items. Now, Sunday Bazaar has become the go-to place for ladies looking for some epic bargains. I say epic because the price reductions are enough to drag these ladies out of their cozy beds and into the scorching Karachi heat, only to be pushed and shoved on their way to their trusty ‘Khan.’ But those who come here know how to navigate the market and make their way towards the bounty like moths to a flame. After all, we may hail from different backgrounds and races but one thing unites us all: our passion for fashion. “My husband should be grateful that I save so much money on bags and shoes by shopping from Sunday Bazaar!” says Shiza*, a youngster possessing an assortment of both original and not-so-original designer bags. “I can use that money later, on other things. After all, a girl’s got to have everything!” she adds.

The bags section at Sunday Bazaar is broadly divided into four main sections: new and used bags, new and used shoes, cheat perfumes and cosmetics and lastly, everything else one could think of, including hair appliances, Christmas decorations, cutlery and even X-Box controllers. However, the designer bags section takes the cake! One must forget that most of the items of interest here are used or defected or of questionable origins. One must also never question the hygiene factor as even if the ‘Khans’ do clean their merchandise before putting it on display, the methods of cleaning are unlikely to be sufficient. We shall overlook these factors because they evidently bear no significance to the hundreds to ladies who purchase the goods, even if it means risking a fungal disease or two. “The bags may be shady at times but the bargain is worth it. I found an original Louis Vuitton Pallas handbag here,” said Samina*, a customer at the bazaar. “The retail price for that particular LV bag is between $1,200 to $4,000. But here, the Khan said it was for Rs2,500 and settled for Rs1,200 at the end. That bag is my best Sunday Bazaar purchase ever!”

Unfortunately, the number and variety of the luxury brands one might find at Sunday Bazaar is limited and therefore, sold on a first-come-first serve basis. Some thrifty customers have found a way around that as well. “These bags are amazing and sell like hot cakes,” explains Rida, an arm-candy enthusiast and regular at Sunday Bazaar’s bags section. “Women who come here know their full worth, as do the Khans. That is why I have my favourite Khan’s number saved on my speed dial. I call him early Sunday and tell him to keep all Louis Vuittons, Coaches and Guccis aside and promise to purchase them at whatever price he asks for. It is a win-win situation for us both. He gets his money and I get to flaunt brands that most can only dream about,” she says.



A short distance from the used designer bags stalls leads us to some brand new ones, with their handles wrapped in white paper and tags intact. Scan these goodies in the daylight and you will see them piled high and clean with gleaming metal plates bearing names of brands otherwise seen on Hollywood red carpets. “These bags are from China!” say the Khans on this stall. While they lack the ‘original’ factor, one can see the extent to which the makers have gone to make the bag appear authentic: some inner pockets even carry the brand envelopes and cards found only in the originals. They are new, germ-free exact replicas and unless one is a branded bag connoisseur, no one would be able to differentiate between a fake and originals. “The LV bag I bought from Sunday Bazaar has not only lasted me over two years, it has also travelled with me to France and New York,” says Maleeha*, another regular at the Khan’s stalls. “My friends and family know I travel frequently and assume I must have purchased my bags from abroad. No one can tell the difference!” And what about the perks of having a classy original? “Why would I spend thousands of dollars abroad when I can find the next best thing for practically nothing, just two lanes away from my house?” she says.

Although most of the vendors at Sunday Bazaar are not too keen on answering questions regarding their merchandise, a polite purchase or two can coax them into divulging some interesting information. “We get all these bags from containers that come into our port from America and China and France,” shares one seller in a hushed voice. “Of course, some private dealers do the initial sorting and take the best of the lot before we are allowed to even look at it,” he adds angrily. Another Khan shed light on the cleaning process in that “We purchase the bags by weight. Most of them are used so we clean and mend them before putting them on sale. I have a mochi friend who does it for me.” These Khans are fully aware of the worth of each brand, which logo symbolises which designer and their pronunciations of even the most difficult of brand names is completely accurate. They know the niche market they hold well and trying to haggle for the price will result in a rather rude and disgruntled Khan shooing you away and accusing you of being a newbie to luxury brands.

Considering the efforts that go into making these bags look as good as the original and the clientele they beget, you have all the reasons to raise an eyebrow the next time a friend speaks about the gorgeous Prada bag her husband bought her on their “trip to New York.” Regardless of whether one is a fashionistas on the lookout for great bargains or simply marvelling at the wonders of the black market, it is hard not to smile when you inquire the price of a random bag on display and a Khan proudly responds “Baaji, dhaai hazaar rupiya. Yeh Louis Vuitton ka original hai!”

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, February 9^th, 2014.