Okay, so I recently got back from Pakistan and I really wanted to share my clothes-making experiences with you guys.
In terms of boutiques, Pakistanis are ripping off the population. Strong statement, ey? But its true. Karachi is getting imports of ready-made clothes from India at a cheaper price than locally made ready-made clothes.
Furthermore, most boutiques offer clothes made from cheap cloth. Quality of embroidery and designing and finishing is also poor for the most part.
But there was one good experience I had and that was with Exclusive boutique. I initially didn’t want to go to it because it seems so common, but I gave it a chance. They have a new outlet in Clifton and one older one in Bahadurabad. The one in Clifton is better, I think. Service is honestly GREAT. You can get ready made clothes and alterations are free (most places now offer free alterations). They also have small, medium, large sizes (which also most boutiques are now offering). There second floor is entirely 3-piece, 2-piece suits. You pick which cloth design you want, and you give them your measurements. For an additional 300-400 ruppees they tailor your outfit, since they have an in-home tailor. Pluses are that the tailor is ON TIME, and fitting is pretty good. They also can do any fashion you can think of, since they’re used to constructing the latest ones. I am in no way soliciting business here, but I had a pretty good experience with them, so I wanted to share.
I bought one ready-made outfit from Exclusive and I got some tailoring done from them as well. Best time to buy from them is the summer when they have their sales.
I also had some outfits done from Exotic, a boutique on Tariq Road. The fashion designer herself sits at the boutique and talks with you personally about what style will suit you. Prices are very reasonable. We got outfits in the 3000 ruppee range - formal ones. Her quality of stitching is good, and alterations are free and done on the spot. She is a bit pushy though, so that’s the only downside.
The rest of my outfits I had done by personal tailors. Here is the problem with tailors. They don’t deliver the finished product on time, and usually, the fitting is off. The thing is that your measurements for clothes differ based on material. So for a lawn outfit, I need one set of measurements. For a silk outfit, I need another set. For cotten, another set, etc. Most tailors know this, but they don’t bother to tell you, unless you ask them to alter the measurements based on the material. Exclusive was pretty good about this - they know material and they know how to make measurements FOR that particular material. That’s why whatever they made for me, it fitted perfectly.
Now, I personally have been taking short trips to Pakistan due to my schedule, so I really don’t have time to run after tailors like I used to. Therefore, I’ve found economic boutiques like Exclusive and the like to be a bit better suited for me. I didn’t get a chance to go all over Pakistan, but I can tell you that Bahadurabad area has some really good boutiques.
If you’re looking for cheap, high-quality 3-piece suits that you simply get tailored, then look at Tariq Road. They have a LOT of variety.
If you are looking for kaam to be done on your clothes, and you don’t mind waiting a bit for your clothes to be done, then get your kaam done at kehkeshaan shopping center. Its in Clifton. There is a nice material shop there too - called Bareeze. Very beautiful fabrics, but it is pricy. In kehkeshaan you have lots of karigars who do kaam, so you just pick what you like and you get it done. Pluses are that they can copy exactly any designer design you show them. I saw so many copies of Karma and Mehdi sort of designs there. The quality is EXCELLENT. And as long as you understand cloth material you are good. Get kaam done on raw silk (dyed to whatever color you like), or kattan fabrics. They’re stiffer so they make for excellent formal wear. Raw silk is pricy but it looks great. They’ll do the kaam for you, and then you have to find a tailor who can do the fitting. By the way, Exclusive has outfits with kaam done on them already - you pick and they tailor the cloth to whatever design you like. Kehkeshaan kaam alone will cost you around 3000-4000 ruppees in the summer season. From what I was told, once shaadi season is over, the kaam rates drastically go down to 2000 ruppees. I didn’t get much kaam done from Kehkeshaan because I found their prices too high.
Other good places to go to for kaam is Gulf shopping center. The quality is a bit lower, but prices are better. However, not one of them is punctual with their work and you might find your finished product to have some stains. But if you’re looking for cheaper stuff to pass off at a party, go there.
Forum has one good boutique that is reasonablly priced. Mashal - first floor right near the entrance. The other boutiques there are drastically overpriced.
The Point/Park Towers - great shops. But I’m sorry, most of the clothing places there are overpriced. I didn’t have enough time to go thru all the shops though.
Dollmen Mall - on Tariq Road/Bahadurabad area. Its excellent. Lots of shops. They have the expensive designers as well as cheaper ready-mades. Pick what you want. Very few of them have fitting rooms though, and most won’t do alterations…
I didn’t have enough time to go everywhere though, I’ll be honest. There are like 3-4 other boutiques - nice reasonable ones with good fashions next to the Exclusive in Bahadurabad. I don’t remember their names exactly now, but their stuff is pretty good. I didn’t get anything from them, because nothing really jumped out at me, but there’s enough there and its well-priced. There service wasn’t that great though.
One thing I observed: Most boutique salesman and saleswomen really don’t care if you buy or not. Most wont even get off their cell phones to serve you, actually. It seems like maybe they’re not getting paid on commission? I don’t know. Irregardless, very few boutiques know what BUSINESS means.
Please add to this thread any names of good boutiques in Karachi.
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Do post some pics of your trip.