Photo : Courtesy
With Eid just a few days away, fashion stores are abuzz with large crowds and family matching clothes as well as Middle Eastern outfits are trending this Eid.
Like every year, local fashion brands are offering new designs as they attempt to stand out from the crowd and attract customers. Family matching outfits dominate almost all the local brands. They are offering dresses for parents and children that have similar colours and designs.
Such dresses will create the impression that the individuals are all from the same family. Buyers are also showing increased interest in such clothes as they are checking them out before deciding to make the purchase.
Tanya, wife of Shahed Ahmed from Mirpur, said the whole family, including parents and in-laws, would wear matching outfits. She also said she would take pictures of the family members wearing similar clothes on the Eid day and share those on Facebook.
Almost all local brands, such as Aarong, Nipun, Le Reve, Sailor, Gentleman, Kay Kraft, Anjans, and Rang Bangladesh, are offering family matching garments. There are varieties and novelties in their dresses, especially in design, cutting, and length.
Bishwarang Proprietor Biplab Saha said Eid accounts for two-thirds of their annual sales, which is why they try to offer a wide range of designs at that time.
“This year, we are offering many new designs as we have brought varieties. We have many new motifs. The prominent one among them is the tribal motif. There are various Islamic motifs along with regular ones as well,” he said.
He further said there have been variations in garment cutting as well. “Keeping summer in mind, we used light cotton and comfortable fabrics. But we also used silk, endy, half silk, and muslin to give some outfits a festive look.”
Biplab, also a fashion designer, said there are also varieties in making because block, screen, embroidery, and patchwork have been used.
“Besides, we have variations in cutting. Sleeves have been modified. We want customers to buy Eid clothes for their entire family from one outlet, which is why we are offering family matching outfits. But if they want to buy separately for each family member, there are many options as well,” he added.
There are varieties in readymade garments as well. Along with the local ones, clothes from other countries like India, Pakistan, and the Middle East are on display. Indian and Pakistani saree, salwar kameez, and panjabi have always been popular among Bangladeshi customers.
However, this year, Middle Eastern clothes are a new addition to Eid fashion. Two fashion brands selling such outfits have opened their outlets here – Taroor and Elaf Al Dubai. They are selling Irani burqa, hijab, and abaya, and these have generated huge interest among buyers. Men`s clothing includes panjabi sets coming with kaftan, turban, and coaty.
As always, there is a Bollywood influence in dresses this time too. Varieties are visible in children`s wear as well as readymade saree, salwar kameez, and lehenga. Kameez is mostly shorter in length. There are sleeveless dresses as well as those with three-quarter and pleated sleeves. Panjabis have become a little shorter.
Simple designs are widely noticeable this year. Along with one-colour panjabi, printed ones are also on offer. Not all fashion houses could keep up with the new trends. They are offering no varieties and are stuck in traditional designs. However, when consumers can see a wide variety of fashion items at the click of a button in this era of technology and online shopping, fashion entrepreneurs think there is no alternative but to break free from old design patterns and offer something new for survival.
Model and choreographer Bulbul Tumpa said fashion is always changing and experiments are done in this sector all over the world throughout the year, which result in wide varieties.
“To keep up with the latest global trends, our designers have to bring something new as well. Today`s young generation prefers fashion fusion a lot. Many of them travel to Dubai and are influenced by the local fashion there. Then they start wearing clothes like kaftan and abaya. Such fusions will always happen,” she said.
When asked about how local fashion brands will fare this Eid, Fashion Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh President Khalid Mahmood Khan said the coronavirus pandemic rocked the clothing industry and the impacts remained for two years.
“I think business will be better than last year this time. But the Bailey Road fire tragedy will have a major impact on shopping. People want to do Eid shopping comfortably. If the environment is safe and convenient, they will shop with ease,” he said.
“We hope small entrepreneurs as well as big ones will turn around this year,” he added.
Messenger/Fameema
