Rajshahi, Mar 15 (V7N) – With the holy Eid al-Fitr approaching, tailor shops across Rajshahi city and its surrounding areas are experiencing a surge in orders, keeping craftsmen busy from morning until late at night.

Although most orders were placed during the first week of Ramadan, the workload has intensified as Eid draws nearer. The sound of sewing machines can be heard throughout the day, and in many workshops tailors continue working until Sehri to meet delivery deadlines.

A visit to various markets in Rajshahi showed large crowds at tailoring shops as men, women, children and elderly customers rush to place or collect their orders for new clothes. Many customers remain anxious about whether their outfits will be delivered before Eid.

Tailors say they are struggling to manage the pressure despite hiring additional workers. Orders this year include three-piece suits, gowns, kurtis, Punjabis, pajamas, fatwas, sherwanis and children’s clothing.

According to local craftsmen, demand for customised designs has increased significantly, especially among young women. Many customers now bring photos of designs found on social media and online platforms and request similar styles to be stitched.

Tailors say such customised outfits require more time to complete. While a simple salwar-kameez previously took about one to one-and-a-half hours to stitch, the addition of design work, lace, hand embroidery and finishing can now take nearly double the time.

Abdur Razzak, owner of New Ridden Tailors in Sahebbazar Kapalpatti area of the city, said his shop stopped accepting new orders from the 10th of Ramadan due to the heavy workload.

“We take orders according to customers’ needs every Eid season. Now we are focusing on delivering the existing orders on time,” he said.

Many tailoring shops have already hung notices reading “Eid orders closed,” though some still accept limited work for regular customers.

Craftsmen say long working hours while fasting have left them physically exhausted, but they continue working to ensure customer satisfaction. Shop owners are also paying overtime wages to workers to complete the orders.

Customers, however, complain that tailoring costs have increased compared with last year. While stitching a three-piece suit previously cost around Tk 800 to Tk 1,000, the price has now risen to between Tk 1,200 and Tk 1,800. Similar increases have been reported for Punjabi and pajama stitching.

Suraiya Akhtar, a resident of Bhadra area in the city, said she placed her order early in Ramadan due to the rush at tailor shops.

“There is always a huge crowd at tailors during Eid. I came today to collect my clothes, though the cost of stitching has increased compared to before,” she said.

Local resident Samrat Hossain said many people prefer tailor-made clothes for better fitting and comfort during Eid.

Tailors say the rising prices of fabrics, threads, buttons, lace and other accessories, along with increased electricity bills and shop rents, have forced them to raise their stitching charges.

Rajshahi city has hundreds of small and large tailoring shops, and the Eid season creates temporary employment opportunities. Many students and unemployed youths take short-term jobs as assistants, helping with cutting, button sewing and finishing work.

Local traders say a seasonal economic boost occurs in cloth and tailoring markets during Eid, with many shopkeepers earning more than half of their monthly sales in the final ten days before the festival.

Sajjad Hossain, director of Modern Monica Ladies Tailors, said the coming days will remain extremely busy as shops work to complete all pending orders before Eid.

END/RAR/RH