Not very long ago you could see shoppers flooding the street market at Law Garden during Navratri. The shopkeepers would not budge from the prices fixed for the garments. But everything has changed for them since the last festive season.
DNA spoke to the shop-owners at Law Garden and found out that sales this year have dropped tremendously for reasons that may surprise you.
"This pre-Navratri season has been very dull for us as it's getting really tough to get customers," lament shop-owners who used to have a thriving business of selling colourful chaniya cholis earlier.
Ask them the reason for the same and they are quick to reply: "It is because of the bomb blasts that rocked Mumbai and Delhi in the last three months. We had many customers from Mumbai and Delhi who bought many clothes but this time they are missing. Probably they are scared to be a part of this festival as it happens in crowded places," they say.
Shopping for chaniya cholis, traditional oxidised jewellery and other essentials for the nine nights of garba, didn’t seem to catch up. Even the prospect of discounts and advertising gimmicks like chaniya cholis has not been able to attract the crowds to the shops. Tourists and NRIs who are the major buyers of ethnic stuff have dropped considerably in number.
Bhupendra bhai, a stall owner at Law Garden says, "There has been a major drop in our sales since last year." Similar sentiments are expressed by another stall owner Gitaben, "I have a huge pile of fresh designs of chaniya cholis and kedius which are untouched till now. At least, we expected that in the last 15 days sales will pick up but nothing has happened," she stresses.
Fashion expert Falguni Patel says: "This time in the fashion market fusion wear is prevalent which people may not find in the street markets. Designers are playing with mix and match block prints, kalamkari, silk and satin fabrics. Contemporary women like to mix crush skirts with halter neck tops and dupattas for a very bohemian look this season.”
