Local fashion and boutique houses are expecting a boost in their business with a bigger sales target than that of last year as Pohela Boishakh is drawing near.

With an eye on the festival, which is celebrated on April 14 every year, different brands are ready to meet the customers’ demands.

Keeping local tradition and culture in mind, fashion and boutique houses have brought out a wide array of new collections to cope with the changing taste and demand of the customers.

During visits to different areas in the capital, large crowds were seen in fashion houses and shopping malls.

Shahin Ahmed, vice-president of Fashion Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (FEAB), told the Dhaka Tribune that because of peaceful political situation, people were doing their buys in a festive mode with family members.

“The overall sales of fashion houses have increased across the country. This year, the Boishakhi clothing sales are projected to around Tk200 crore, and we are expecting that the total sales will increase by 10% compared to last year,” he added.

Shahin, also CEO of Anjan’s, a well known local clothing brand, said that shoppers were mostly buying punjabi, fatua, sari, salwar kamiz, baby clothes, ornaments, cosmetics and footwear.

“Though our sales are good since the last week of March, we are expecting huge sales in the second week of April ahead of Bangla New Year,” he stated.

“Anjan’s punjabi prices range between Tk1,000 and Tk2,000, sari between Tk1,200 and Tk6,000, salwar kmiz between Tk2,000 and Tk5,000 and print fatua between Tk1,200 and Tk3,000. The products of this price ranges are selling high,” he informed.

Md Sagor, sales manager of Bishwa Rang, Mirpur outlet, said that to attract the customers this year they brought a wide range of new collections at their outlets.

“At the beginning of this month, we are getting good responses. Crowds of customers are looking for Boishakhi attires,” he said.

The shoppers were seen very busy to pick the dress of their choice at Aarong outlet at Bashundhara Shopping Mall.

While asked about price of dresses, Sumaiya Akter, a university student who came there to buy clothes on the occasion of Pohela Boishakh, told the correspondent that prices of dresses depended on the quality and designs.

“In Aarong outlets, we can get quality dresses of different designs and colors within our budget,” she noted.

Ananya Biswas, salesperson of the outlet, said that though they were getting good response, customers were more interested about sari compared to salwar kamiz. 

Bibiana’s sales associate Shima Akter said: “This year, our sales are very good. On this occasion, people usually like dresses of local designs and we have a good collection to meet their demand.”

Sejuti Zaman, manager of Palli Boutiques’ Mirpur outlet, said: “Though we had very poor sales during last year’s Eid-ul-Fitr, we have our expected response from the customers ahead of Boishakh.”

Besides the shoppers at fashion houses and shopping malls, people from middle, lower-middle and low income groups were also seen crowding Gausia Market, Hawkers’ Market, New Market, Mouchak Market and other roadside shops in the city.

Amzad Ali, who came from Bangshal in old Dhaka, bought kids’ dresses and saris from New Market.

“Ahead of Pohela Boishakh, I usually buy new dresses for my wife and children every year and Gausia, New Market are the places where I can afford the dress price,” he said.

Saiful Alam, hawker at New Market, said that ahead of Pohela Boishakh his sales went up by 40% to 60%.