Ramadan shopping hit as Pakistani dresses stop coming via LoC trade

Srinagar, May 20: : Pakistani designer dresses which have been trending in Kashmir for many years now are not so readily available in markets these days, after the cross-LoC trade was suspended by the Indian government. This has badly affected supplies in market and hugely escalated the prices.

Pakistani ethnic wear has huge demand in Kashmir especially during festivities, with dealers offering huge discounts on top designer brands during the month of Ramadan and near Eid-ul-Fitr. This Ramadan, traders say, they are facing tough times.

“Our business has been badly affected after cross-LoC trade stopped abruptly. We are unable to meet the demand in the market,” said Haroon Rashid, who deals in Pakistani designer wear.
Another dealer said that they had started importing some Pakistani designer suits from Dubai.
“But it has escalated the prices hugely and made them unaffordable for many people,” he added.

Leading Pakistani designer brands which are popular in Kashmir include Akbar Aslam, Gulmohar, Gul Ahmad, Maria B, Kalamkar, Ramsha, Tawakal, Charizma, Sana Safinaz, Junaid Jamshed, Bareeze and Chinyere.

The dresses include stitched and unstitched, floor-touching embroidered apparels, bridal collections, kaftans, and many sorts of Pakistani fashion wear for women.

Siama Ashraf, the owner of ‘Style Chamber Kashmir’, a home-based fashion store, says prices of Pakistani suits have increased up to 50 percent after the suspension of Cross LoC trade.

She says most of the dealers refused to sell Pakistani dresses to her as per the demand, which is huge, according to her.

It was only after constant requests, she said, that a dealer supplied dresses to her at 20 percent to 50 percent extra price.

“He has been getting the Pakistan designer wear from Dubai ever since the LoC trade has been halted. So, the increase in price is understandable, but it will definitely impact the customer base,” she toldTNN.

Ashraf said the Pakistani dresses are popular in Kashmir due to their superior designs and fabric, and because they come at a variety of design and price.

“Some brands sold as second replica are a little more affordable, but people don’t like them here. Mostly, original and first replicas are popular in Kashmir as they come directly from Pakistan with fixed price tags. That is why there is panic in the market,” Ashraf said.

“Some brands are expensive which everyone can’t afford. Now, further increase in price means loss to business,” she said.

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