Busy tailors, slow sales at Chattogram’s Khalifapatti

The clattering sound of sewing machines echoes from shop to shop at Khalifapatti in Chattogram.

Machine wheels spin nonstop from noon until late at night as workers stitch one garment after another.

Some artisans are busy decorating finished clothes with zari and sequins.

With Eid approaching, the area is bustling with activity.

Yet despite the intense workload, sales remain sluggish so far.

The tailoring hub traces its roots back to the year 1947, when a hawker named Ayub Ali from Begumganj in Noakhali brought several people from his village and started a tailoring business there.

Over time, the area grew into one of Chattogram's main tailoring clusters, now housing more than 400 factories. Nearly all the workers in these factories come from Noakhali and Lakshmipur districts. 

Although wholesale markets usually attract large crowds of retail traders ahead of Eid, Khalifapatti has yet to see a significant influx of buyers this year.

One shop owner said he earned Tk25–26 lakh in sales during the month of Ramadan last year. This year, however, with nine days of Ramadan already over, sales have yet to pick up.

He believes uncertainty surrounding the political situation ahead of the elections discouraged big traders from placing large orders. Rising fabric prices have also dampened business. Still, he hopes sales will improve in the final days before Eid.

Md Shahjalal, joint general secretary of the Khalifapatti Traders Welfare Association, said work is continuing day and night in the area.

"We are making clothes styled after Indian designs. However, I can confidently say that the quality of our garments is no less than those from India. Many traders cannot produce expensive outfits due to a lack of capital, as the prices of fabrics and other materials have increased. But we never compromise on quality," he said.

Traders said business in Khalifapatti usually starts gaining momentum about two weeks before Eid, with nearly 80% of the area's annual work centred on the festival.

Clothes produced here are sold wholesale to retailers across Chattogram as well as in Feni and the three hill districts.

Around 400 shops and factories in the area employ between five and 15 artisans each.

When asked about current demand trends, a worker at Sharmin Garments said they have yet to identify a clear customer preference.

"We don't know yet what customers. There is no particular trendy design, so we are mostly producing last year's styles," he said.

Another trader, Md Liaquat Ali Rony, said markets have not yet seen full-scale sales.

"Many people have not received their salaries yet. Some also spent money during the recent elections when they visited their villages. Ramadan itself brings additional expenses. Altogether, people have less cash in hand, so there are fewer customers in retail markets. That is also affecting the wholesale market," he said.

Meanwhile, shops at Khalifapatti are displaying a wide range of garments including Pushpa frocks, Naira dresses, ghagras, gowns, kurtis, panjabis, shirts, lehengas, baby dresses, coats, mini and long skirts, and salwar kameez.

Inside the factories, colourful dresses are being stitched on one side while finished garments are neatly arranged for sale on the other. Prices range from Tk300 to as high as Tk4,000.

Despite the slow start, traders remain hopeful that business will pick up in the last two weeks of Ramadan.

Md Abul Khayer, finance secretary of the Khalifapatti Traders Association, said daily transactions currently stand at around Tk2 crore.

He added that sales are expected to rise significantly after the 15th day of Ramadan.