Gotta, kinari business loses sheen

Jalandhar, June 11

The Covid-19 outbreak and the lockdown have cast its shadow on the ‘gotta’ and ‘kinari’ (used as accessories on suits) business. Most functions have been postponed and women buyers are also preferring staying indoors in the wake of the Covid threat.

In the months of June and July, retailers stock varieties of knitting yarn for winters. However, this year there is a dearth even in the supply of basic yarn stock from manufacturers due to the lockdown.

Apart from a variety of hand knitting yarn, he deals in the choicest assortment of embellished, embroidered, sequined, tasseled, sparkling laces and ‘gota’ (golden lace) and usually earns a handsome amount in summer and the monsoon.

Manish, who reopened the shop on May 18, said it was the most unusual slump he had ever seen. “There is a dearth of knitting yarn even in summer months. Also, since there are no weddings, kitty parties and gatherings, no one is buying gotas and laces. Boutiques are badly affected. Their workers have gone back to native places and there is less demand for these accessories,” he said.

“We would stock hand knitting yarn in these months. But due to a shortage of labour and partial resumption of manufacturing at factories, yarn supply has been affected. While there are apprehensions that both supply and sales will pick up in September and October, it is difficult to predict as of now. We are pinning our hopes on winter sales – when yarn is in demand.”

“We have lost 30 per cent of our business in yarn sales due to the lockdown. Those who would buy wool for two cardigans earlier would buy for only one now. Many have skipped buying altogether. But we are hopeful of things getting better by winter.”