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Local saris: Demand rising

Sajjadur Rahman
Abul Kashem, a manufacturer and wholesaler of Benarasi, Katan and Jamdani saris in the city's Mirpur Benarasi Palli, is forced to outsource works from outside Dhaka this year.
The reason is a shortage of weavers at the Palli to meet the growing demand.
He feels the business, which had almost been stuck for the last several years, is back. Besides retail sales, he is wholesaling a lot to district towns.
“It seems that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and some other top women cabinet members have inspired other women by wearing locally woven saris," said Kashem, 40, who has been running his father's business since 1994.
He said Hasina herself wears simple cotton, Jamdani and Katan saris, which has encouraged women in the country to follow the trend.
It is an example how lifestyle of the leaders impacts the product choices of either influential or mass-market followers in positive ways. Bangladesh always lags behind in this area.
Winston Churchill had had a great impact on the Great Britain after the World War II. The lifestyle and choices of Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan have also impacted the people not only in Africa but also in other regions.
Swadeshi Andolon in the 1920s and afterwards had also impacted hugely the Indian subcontinent. But there was no such instance in the independent Bangladesh.
Young people here follow Western and Indian film stars in dresses and attitude because of a lack of icons and models in the country.
But it seems things have started changing, traders said.
“We are experiencing a jump in sales of cotton, Jamdani and Katan saris this year," said Belal, 29, a salesman at Benarasi Sari Fashion.
“Even sales of three pieces made by Katan fabrics also rose significantly this year,” said Belal who hails from Goalanda of Rajbari district and has been working at the
shop for the last seven years.
Mirpur Benarasi Palli is a makeshift market spread over section 10 to 11 of Mirpur. The market was developed by people migrated from Indian city of Benaras. Most of the weavers there are also from Indian state, Bihar.
According to the traders, there are nearly 110 shops at the Palli. Some 20,000 weavers and salesmen are involved with the business directly.
The manufacturers and traders said the annual sales of the 110 shops would be between Tk 40 crore and Tk 50 crore, much lower than the potential.
Earlier, it was seen that women, especially high-end segment, were not much interested to use domestic products, said Abul Kashem, owner of Dia Saris and also the general secretary of the shop owners' association of Mirpur Benarasi Palli.
Rich Bangladeshi women used to wear imported georgette and silk saris, he said.
“Now the trend is changing. May be Sheikh Hasina's wearing of domestic saris has had a significant impact," said
Mohammad Kalimuddin, president of the association.
However, Eid sales at those shops are yet to get a momentum, salesmen said. J
“Sales generally peak from Ramadan 10 and last till 25,” said Sumon, a salesman at Adiba Saris. He is expecting good sales from three pieces made of Katan for girls during this year's festival.
“The main income of our business comes from selling of wedding saris," he added.
There are different types of saris available in the Mirpur Benarasi Palli - Ranguli, Opera, Maslin Galaxy, Organza, and Peerless Katan. There are party and wedding saris also.
Prices of the saris start from Tk 1,500. There is no upward limit. Saris at Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 are very common. A simple wedding sari costs Tk 10,000 and the price of a party sari starts from Tk 1,500.
A weaver gets Tk 600 to Tk 6.000 for a piece of sari depending on the quality and price.
sajjad@thedailystar.net