Locked in, people prefer usual homely clothing over swish ones

Amritsar, July 10

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“The sale of fancy fabrics and formal wear has almost vanished in the market and is giving a tough time to the wholesale and retail merchants,” laments Rajiv Aneja, a wholesale readymade garment merchant.

Understandably, Aneja’s claim had always been on the horizon, it was just a matter of time before it materialised into reality. The coronavirus has shaped fears, derailed economy and has hardly left in the world where its mark cannot be seen. And clothing industry is no different.

As the majority of populace has continued to stay indoors, the shift in lifestyle was also bound to happen with many opting for the usual homewearing garments and shunning the luxury, fancy apparels. “The demand for kurtas, pyjamas, shorts, capri, cargo apart from conventional t-shirts has risen remarkably after reopening of markets following the lockdown”, he observes.

The demand has not only surged among men, kids but also women. “Otherwise they were the major buyers of fancy and luxury apparels,” Aneja says. “Since the government has put restrictions on the number of gathering in parties and with people avoiding to visit malls, eating joints and upscale locations, they no longer require swish attires. So, the sale of western dresses, suits, lehanga and saree have plummeted and their traders have no other option but to store them,” he adds.

Meanwhile, a segment of readymade shopkeepers selling the casuals cornering the moolah, however, the wholesalers have been dealing on the low as supply from manufacturing hubs — like Ludhiana, Delhi, Tripur in Tamil nadu, Kolkata and Mumbai — has taken a hit

Tarlochan Singh Chhabra, president of Amritsar Wholesale Readymade Garments Association, says: ”The demand of daily use apparels being worn in houses have risen sharply but the wholesalers are not receiving regular supply from the manufacturing hubs like Ludhiana, Delhi, Tripur in Tamilnadu, Kolkatta and Mumbai.”

He added that the supply from Kolkata came down to a naught. Whereas from hubs in Delhi and Ludhiana it fell down to 30 per cent. According to Chhabra, the reasons are many like labour shortage, immobility due to rampant cases of virus, short supply of yarn and others. “It will take at least a couple of months more to normalise operations,” Chhabra feels.