KARACHI: There are bridal wear markets all over the city, in such places as Clifton, Gizri, Tariq Road, Hyderi and Paposh Nagar. Still when it comes to shopping for such things, most people head to Jama Cloth Market, or Eidgah Market, as it is popularly known, on M.A. Jinnah Road.

The market got its name from the Jama Masjid near it. Earlier, there was a ground here that was used for Eid prayers, but the market now takes up most of that space leave just a little piece of the ground behind it. Still, for shoppers at the market it seems like Eid shopping whenever they are there.

Laces and borders. / Photos by Fahim Siddiqi/White Star

Not just shalwar suits, there are gharara, sharara, sarees, dresses for children and sherwani with embroidered collars, etc, also available. Then you can get a load of accessories such as borders, laces, just embroidered necks with sleeve borders to sew on to a shirt, tassels to use in place of buttons, bangles, cosmetics, shoes and sandals and whatnot?

“Things are so reasonably priced, the main reason behind everyone’s wanting to shop here, and yet the customer is never satisfied, or pretends to be,” says Moonis Iqbal, who runs a shop near one of the many entrances to the market with his father, Iqbal Ahmed.

No shortage of tailors here. / Photos by Fahim Siddiqi/White Star

“People come here with bargaining in mind. They just don’t know when to stop,” the young shopkeeper says, smiling. “Matching this with that is another issue with women. Some also try to drag their poor husbands into all of it, but the poor fellows are as out of it as we when dealing with women.”

The neck and sleeve border embroidery has been done in different mediums. Some have zardozi work, some beads, mirror work and diamanté and all very pretty and exquisite. Their prices range from Rs300 to Rs1,000. But do they lose their shine with time, would they turn grey or black? Most shopkeepers quickly shake their heads while others slowly nod. There are also rolls of laces made specially to match the seasonal prints, for Rs80 a metre to Rs300.

Threads and yarns to be used in embroidery. / Photos by Fahim Siddiqi/White Star

Prices of embroidered suits and other dresses begin at Rs1,400 and go up to Rs35,000. “It all depends on the embroidery and other glitter work on it,” says Mohammad Atta, who has had a shop in the area since 1978.

The market also has tailoring shops. “Some tailors charge as low as Rs800, some as high as Rs4,000 for stitching a suit. There it is all about the tailor’s talent,” says Faraz Ahmed.

Party-wear for your little one. / Balochi dresses. / Photos by Fahim Siddiqi/White Star

Among the embroidered suits, the most popular are the traditional Balochi ones for women with a big pocket at the front of the shirt and lots of embroidery and mirror work on it. Nafis Hassan, who sells these dresses at the market, says that they are also liked and bought by others besides Baloch women. “Some 40 years ago, these dresses were made to order only. But now we have so many already done suit pieces and ready-made dresses, too. We have Balochi dresses made from Georgette, Banarasi and silk material also,” he says. The price range lies between Rs2,500 and Rs50,000.

But the cutest dresses in the entire market are those for little boys and girls. Heavy sherwani for two-year-olds and little gharara or ghagra for the little dolls. But don’t the little ones feel uneasy wearing all that? “Well, since it’s all party-wear stuff, the kids can tolerate it for a couple of hours. Then we use soft lining as well. Another thing mothers of little children do is carry an extra more comfortable outfit with them, something their kids can change into during long weddings,” explains Syed Mohsin Ali, who sells children’s clothes there.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2015

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