Hey guys
Heres the situation. I have a total of 20 days in Karchi to do some serious shopping for a wedding. I have been given the responsibility of arranging the wedding outfits for about 10 women (at least 4 outfits each). On top of that, they all want good quality work at the lowest possible price…can you feel my panic?!
Seriously, the plan is to find the galeyon/areas where the karigars are situated and give a sample each to a few of them. If they are ready in two weeks then I will give the order to the karigar who produces the best quality work. I can return in a few months to pick up the final order.
So my questions are as follows:-
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Where can I find good quality material in Karachi? I am looking for soft silks for shalwar kameez and chiffon for saris.
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Where can I find good karigar in Karachi? I am prepared to travel anywhere in or just outside Karachi for this. Ideally we want to be going to the galeyon and the areas in which they live as families and work. Can anyone recommend someone? Do you have any photos of work they have completed and any prices so I can see the quality of the workmanship? We know exactly what we want so it will be a matter of them working with us.
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If you don’t know of any karigars we can approach directly, are there ary places you would recommend where I can get this type of work done? Again, we have photos etc of what we want.
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Where can I find motis, diamontes, sitarai etc for the kaam on the clothes? Is there a place where I can just buy it in bulk?
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Lastly, can you please recommend any hotels for me to stay in? There are two of us. I have had a look on the internet but there seems to be nothing other than the typical sheraton etc. We would like something reasonable and funky and ethnic!
Please guys help to point me in the right direction. Any hep will be greatly appreciated!
Re: Can you recommend any karigar (embroidery walas)?
i feel for you! i was given a similar task and it was horrifiying! if you don't know where to go or what to buy, it can be stressful.
however, there is help! :)
go to Gulf or Ashiana for material, go to Kehkashan for kaam. thats pretty much all you need to do. oh, and bargain hard.
in Kehkashan, as you enter, one of the first few stores on the right is a new store - their prices are therefore "introductory" and much lower than the others. i'll find out the name of the store for you- my cousin is having her bridal made from them and prior to that, she had a formal made- she says the kaam is lovely and neat and they copied the pic right out of the magazine. you can also buy material in Kehkashan, but I've heard its pricier than in Gulf. remember to ask the karigar how much material and what kind of material is best suited for the outfit you want copied (unless you already know this, of course).
not sure about the hotels, but karachi is NOT a tourist hotspot so i would seriously avoid anything "funky and ethnic". what you want IS the good, old, secure Sheraton where two girls can stay on their own without being hassled and doors lock and its in a safe part of town, etc.
and it sounds like you are going for the first time- so i would highly recommend NOT taking valuables like designer purses and sunglasses with you. and if you want to wear jeans, wear them with hip-covering kurtas and dupattas or shawls. because Gulf/Ashiana and Kehkashan are not places you want to be flashing all this stuff. plus you're going to get ripped off big time if you even flash an accent.
GOOD LUCK!!!
also, i sent you a PM.
Re: Can you recommend any karigar (embroidery walas)?
Thanks so much, I really appreciate your help. Thanks also for the pm. I spent ages drafting you a polite reply only to be told I couldnt send you the message as I am new to this! Will there be lots of variety in kehkashan? Do you or anyone else have any photos you can share of the work done? What am I looking at in terms of prices, I know this varies on the type of work etc but some indication would be great. Come on guys, please respond....I am seriously stressing here!!!
Re: Can you recommend any karigar (embroidery walas)?
lol you can email me if you like, its my nick at gmail.com
there is lots of variety, yes.
photos i don't have.
kaam pricing is around $6000-$10,000 for formals, and if you want them to be super super full of kaam and really good quality material, then obviously higher. you should be good for around $20,000 per outfit if you want to keep a really generous budget on hand.
Re: Can you recommend any karigar (embroidery walas)?
Thanks guys, that information has been really useful......wish me luck!!!
lol you can email me if you like, its my nick at gmail.com
there is lots of variety, yes.
photos i don't have.
kaam pricing is around $6000-$10,000 for formals, and if you want them to be super super full of kaam and really good quality material, then obviously higher. you should be good for around $20,000 per outfit if you want to keep a really generous budget on hand.
please tell me you meant pak RS not $$$$
Re: Can you recommend any karigar (embroidery walas)?
lol i was thinking exactly the same thing :)
SGC don't scare the living daylights out of us, go easy on us girl !
lol