Clothing life anew...

18 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 18 OCT: With Durga puja barely days away, Puja shopping has reached a feverish pitch. In fact, a large number of people have completed their shopping, but those who have not, are busy with their last-minute marketing.
A visit to several shopping complexes in Midnapore and Kharagpur revealed that price rise is no bar to puja shoppers. Though many shop owners are unhappy over poor sales compared to last year, a few high-end garment shop owners have said that their sales have actually soared by 20 per cent compared to last year.
Rising gold prices have brought about a big change in the shopping habit of West Midnapore residents this festive season. “With the price of gold increasing significantly, people are refraining from buying their favourite gold ornaments this year. The sale has not even reached 50 per cent of what it was before Durga Puja last year,” said Bijay Kumar Guin, a town-based jeweller.
“Imitation and costume jewellery are the in thing. People from far-flung areas who come for shopping in towns prefer to buy imitation. They bought chunky neckpieces to trendy bangles which were beautiful and affordable,” said another jeweller.
Shops and marts at Barabazar in Midnapore and Goalbazar in Kharagpur have plenty to offer to keep their customers happy. The latest craze to sweep the towns is branded clothes.
“I'm least bit bothered if my pair of jeans is local or branded; I'm happy that I bought two new pairs of jeans without spending much,” said Puja Bhattacherjee, an undergraduate student of Midnapore College.
“I love to shop till I drop during festivals... my mother lets me spend without nagging,” said Ruchi Sen, a Class XI student. Kaveri Dutta echoed the same.
She said her family’s expenses on buying dresses exceeded Rs 15,000 this Puja, which is almost double the amount they had spent the previous year.
The demand for typical Gujarati dress like ghagra-choli and Bol Bacchan were high among youth.
No wonder branded garment shops in the town are doing a brisk business this festive season. The manager of a branded garments store in Midnapore said, “This year, many people preferred to buy branded garments and we have a booming business without any Puja sale or discounts.”
He said various designs of suits like umbrella, anarkali and frock suits remained the favourite among girls and women even though they had to shell out more than Rs 4,000 per piece.
Several small garment shop owners who netted handsome profit last year, however, are a disappointed lot. “We depend on the rural people who come to our shops to buy garments. But, this year, barely 20 per cent rural people have visited our shops. They did not turn up this season because of rise in prices of essential commodities," said Mr Manoj Pramanik, a garment shop owner at LIC More in Midnapore town.