Okay not like an NA shopping mall but the whole market I guess, is called ashiana. There’s a lot pathan lalas there…and they’ll argue with you over the price, of course you can never win especially when they realize how badly you want that piece of kapra! :o
Karachi does have malls that resemble those in NA, although they are smaller in size with small shops…I was there in summer and they had all sorts of kurta type shirts…shalwar kameezes ready to be stitched…handicrafts, kids stuff, etc. I can’t remember the name though I think it was in the Clifton area. I’m sorry
You know with the amount of time that you have…barely a week in karachi…I suggest the first couple of days you just buy cloth and dump it at the tailors place. Although they may say they’ll finish in time, you can never be sure, specially if you are a first time customer. Also getting embroidery done takes time…unless you have someone who’s willing to bring back ur clothes to Canada later…I don’t know how you’ll fit it into ur schedule. I was pressed for time…I had barely a week and a half in karachi to do ALL my clothing shopping done, but I had someone overlook it when I left Karachi to visit other areas. All i bought was lots of lawn suits for everyday wear, then some causual suits for evening wear…and then party wear…plus a lot in between Good luck and have fun!! I wish I could go back right now
Sehar, that's the plan. We already have one tailor that we used last time ... the kapra we already have been stocking up on, we're gonna take it to her the day we land. She's pretty good and will get it done on time. My nani ammi will be staying in Karachi for a few months, so those suits that are not made in time, she will bring back to Toronto with her later on .... particularly all the embroidery ones.
I always see these nice shopping malls in the dramas and they always say they are in Karachi which is why I want to check them out.
Ashiana sounds like the 'Allah Walla Market' I went to in Karachi last time. It was practically run by pathans and uffff, they would get very pissed off when we would bargain and then decide we didn't want the kapra. :D
lol yeah I was at Allah Wala's Market too :D They sure do get angry fast. I saw one kameez kapra, it was blood (deep) red with bluish flower pattern on it...I fell in love with it immediately and in two seconds I knew how I wanted to design my suit with that karpa...the lala ji wouldn't decrease even one rupee. My aunt argued with him for like 20 mins with me saying a phrase or two here and there. I was just about to leave when I was like oh waht the heck and paid full price for it. Well worth it though...I love the outfit.
You know what takes forever though...matching the kapray. I bought stuff from here...shirt pieces that I needed to get shalwars for, and dupattas and then if you don't get a perfect match you have to go and have it dyed. It's so tedious especially if you don't have time :( But it's good that ur nani ammi is staying, that should be ample time to get stuff done. Oh and plan ahead on what type of karhai you want to get done..and what color combos you want, the sleeve cuts, the daman cuts/designs...and dupatta designs. There's a lot going on with the sleeves though with the slits and all, they look very cool. One thing I should mention...definitely check out shoes as well to go with your party outfits...they have very trendy sandals with mooti and all in a WIDE variety of colors...and you know colors are IN :D
the malls u see in the dramas are park towers which is located in defense and also dolmen mall thats on tariq road. if u want good quality ready made stuff i still suggest maria b at park towers and in bahadurabad there are two stores one is called cynosure and the other is option. they have really cute trouser kameezes that i got for my "american" friends and they all love them.
maybe i shoudl post a new topic..i dunno..but can anyone give me the same advice about tailors/embroidary for islamabad? i'll be gogin there this december....thanks!!!!
Mehnaz, those good looking malls...one's called Chen One..its all airconditioned..second one is Park Towers..
and there's a new mall called mellinium mall..i saw it from outside but not inside..so can't tell you about that.
I remember somehow that your nani lives in north nazimabad..so why don't you you check out hyderi...they have some new shops and new buildings at the back side of the hyderi now..mostly botiques..you can check the upper level too..they have some shops there too..
I am not sure if you would ever go there or not..but in sadar area..there's a bazar called jama cloth market..its a cloth market and basically you can find anything there related to clothing.
Qrius, my nani ammi lives here now. When they lived in Pakistan, they lived in Nazimabad. I don’t know which one, apparently there are a few Nazimabad areas.
I went to Jamma Cloth market and the Allah Wallah market last time and Hyderi too … I covered most of Sadar and this time I want to go to places I didn’t have time to go to last year.
the tailor will need time to stitch ur stuff...and if he says he's giving it back to u on a certain date, do not believe him, kepe a margin of atleast 2-3 days...and make sure to try the stuff he sews instead of getting stuff mass tailored and then trying it later to see its not the right size...
u can write a list of stuff u r looking to buy and i can tell u which places r the best for which item...but everything is avlbl in the clifton shops..
unless ur looking for real gold jewelry in which case u shud try saddar zaibunnisa street...
I have a phenonmenal karigar named Akbar in Karachi and after seeing the outrageous prices here (sorry but excellent kaam doesnt equal exuberant prices!) I have decided to have my outfits done by him. The only problem I have is that though his kaam is great, his tailors arent. That is why I havent been using him recently.
Can anyone recommend any good tailor in Karachi, preferably in Defense side? Akbar has his adda in Gulf market so I would prefer someone close to that, though he has said that if I find him a good tailor, he would be willing to go whereever the darzi was located.
I get most of my formal/sem-formal clothes made by a designer in Noor Market in Hydari. His name is Ameen. You can contact him at this number: 6678413
He has made some very beautiful stuff for me...the quality of kaam is outstanding AND unique so try him. His tailors are great IMO. Only one thing, he sometimes gives clothes late but that is due to excessive load shedding in karachi.
I think it was in the Clifton area. I’m sorry 
Good luck and have fun!! I wish I could go back right now 
