KARACHI, Sept 29: Imported readymade garments have made deeper inroads in the local markets and consumers will again have a wide-range of choice this year during the peak shopping period preceding the Eid festival.

Market sources observed that many customers opted for imported stuff because of their designs and colours, which the local industry failed to offer.

This is despite the fact that the imported fabrics cannot compete with local fabrics in quality. It is actually the competitive prices that decide the case in favour of the imported ones as compared to the locally made items.

Consumers are now very much aware of the designs and style of the garments worldwide — thanks to cable networks. The younger generation today appears more inclined towards fancy kurtas (shirt) made of Indian and Chinese fabrics.

A lot of people get inspired by watching Indian plays projecting latest Indian fashions, some market observers believe.

Owner of Departmental stores--Wardrobe and Delhi House--Mohammad Nasim Arfeen told Dawn that China had virtually captured 100 per cent market share in gents suiting (fabrics), while Thailand fabrics for shirting enjoyed 90 per cent market share currently.

However, he said that the local industry enjoyed 80 per cent market share in shalwar kameez fabrics, especially made of cotton. In children, there is 50-50 per cent market share of the local industry and imported garments. However, the local industry is using 50 per cent fabrics imported from China.

Children garments from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Dubai attract a lot of customers because of their designs, colours and fabrics. In children shoes, he said, 99 per cent market share is enjoyed by China.

Mr Nasim pointed out that the Eid shopping fever was yet to pick up because of the early days of Ramazan. However, he added that buyers might appear confused in this auspicious religious occasion, which is falling at the start of the winter season.

People will keep in mind winter season requirements before buying garments and fabrics for the Eid festival, he added.

He denied that the Chinese fabrics and garments were low-priced as compared to the locally produced items. He said that the prices of Chinese items had surged by 20-25 per cent because of the increase in oil prices worldwide.

Director Al Karam Textile Mills Rafiq Ibrahim said that the imported fabrics for ladies and gents had already landed in the country in large quantities. He said some 12-15 containers (carrying 30,000-40,000 metre each of foreign fabrics including Indian) had reached the markets much ahead of Ramazan and more consignments were in the pipeline.

He said that the Indian and Chinese fabrics for gents and ladies enjoyed 10-15 per cent market share because they cannot compete with the quality of Pakistani textiles and fabrics. Their rates are definitely low as compared to the locally produced fabrics but the local mills’ products, especially made of cotton, enjoy an edge due to their quality.

“Indian fancy kurtas’ fabrics are literally piece of junk in which polyester percentage is very high,” he said adding that the retail outlets are fully utilising the demand for fancy kurtas.

A leading apparel and fabrics producer Majyd Aziz said that the Chinese, Thai and Indonesian children garments had taken over the Pakistani markets by storm, while gents suiting made of India and China enjoyed 60-70 per cent market share.

In gents kurta, India’s share is 15-20 per cent, while Indian ladies suiting has 10 per cent market share. Majyd further said that the imported items were being cleared through under-invoicing and misdeclaration, that’s why they were cheaper.

Director Bonanza Garments Industries Hanif Bilwani said that China enjoyed 70-75 per cent market share in gents’ suiting, while some Indian suiting had also arrived and its share was 10 per cent.

In ladies suiting, China holds the market by 60 per cent, while in children readymade garments it enjoys 60 per cent market share, and 20 per cent share is grabbed by Thailand and Indonesia.

In shalwar kameez, the share of local industry, especially in cotton fabrics is 100 per cent, while fancy kurta fabrics of Indian and Chinese origin hold 15-20 per cent share.

Chinese fabrics and garments are cheaper than the locally produced stuff, while Indian fabrics are costlier than Pakistani fabrics but they lack quality, he said.