PHOTO: PALASH KHAN

SUKANTA HALDER

As Eid shopping gained momentum over the past week in major cities, many shoppers were left scratching their heads over the prices of clothes.

With some outlets charging Tk 100,000 if not more for clothes, namely panjabis, the outfit of choice for the festive occasion, the issue also gained traction on social media.

Earlier this week, Bangla daily Prothom Alo reported that a fashion outlet in Dhaka was selling a panjabi for as much as Tk 4 lakh.

Such a scenario begs the question: Why are the prices so high and what exclusive features make them attractive to buyers?

Ask sellers and they will cite various reasons: premium-quality fabrics, intricate designs, handcrafted embroidery, and sophisticated dying processes.

For instance, Anzara, a premium fashion store in the capital’s Banani, is selling panjabis for prices between Tk 4,500 and Tk 95,000. It also sells women’s kaftan saris, ranging from Tk 14,800 to Tk 16,800.

Asked about the high prices, Anzara’s Public Relations Manager Nowshin Nawar said the clothes are made with premium-quality fabric and feature intricate designs.

“Embroidery is handcrafted rather than machine-made, and most of the fabrics are imported,” she said, adding businesspeople and high-income earners are among their buyers.

In the same area, another outlet, JK Foreign, is selling panjabis as well as three-piece dresses for women for as much as Tk 60,000. The store has saris priced between Tk 35,000 and Tk 150,000.

Salespersons from multiple stores said that during Eid, many customers prefer Indian and Pakistani outfits. To meet this demand, brands stock up on premium clothing imported from the neighbouring countries.

Interviews with officials from high-end brand outlets last Friday revealed that before the July uprising, which ended with the ouster of the Awami League government in August last year, wealthy businessmen and political leaders were the primary buyers of these extravagant outfits.

However, after the political shift, 90 to 95 percent of these customers have disappeared, leading to a significant drop in luxury clothing sales.

Although the primary buyers remain businesspeople, politicians, and high-level executives, most customers currently prefer outfits priced between Tk 5,000 to Tk 20,000.

Soriful Islam, in charge of Alif-Libas Attaqwaa’s Banani branch, said the high prices derived from premium fabrics and skilled artisans.