Hey guys, been back from Pakistan for 3 weeks (I am from the UK) and after a long hard reflection I am posting my thoughts on my shopping trip. My research was 99% based on gupshup…so thanks to everyone for there advice and tips…even if not directed at me! My thought of Pakistan is that we have such skilled ppl there who are so underpaid and wasted, we have such a talented country!
My mums main plan was to go to every single market before I made my decision…only so I knew in my mind that I had seen everything…so no paranoia episodes would take place after I had purchased my clothes. I’m glad I did this now, but whilst there it was a hassle going from one place to another!
Places I went to were: Please not only my views, so i’m not disrespecting anyone who has a difference of opinion, just my view!!!
- Rang Mahal, Ichra, Moon Market type places.
I found nothing, and was so annoyed at myself that I even went there. There were lots of raves on gupshup about these places but nothing to what I liked. But glad I went to see what they had. Bought nothing, Rang Mahal is the busiest place I have ever seen in Pakistan! OMG I couldn’t breath. Mum says she’d kill me if we ever went again! Ichra, same as Rang Mahal really!
- Fortress
Some ok ready made shops for my mum but nothing I was jumping up and down about! Im toooooo picky as u would have guessed by now! lol
- Anarkali
Did like some things in Bano and Baba Bazaar, but it was only in a few shops, only got 3 ready made suits from here, kaam ones, for about 5,000 each, as they were mediums, took them to my darzi, who fitted them in my size. Mum got mendi suit from here for about 7,000 - so expensive now!!! I didnt realise how expensive pak is now!
- Liberty Market
Loved this place , got my Walima suit from Think Pink (haggled from 75,000 to 50,000), and they were great in customer service, chose it after visiting the shop 3 times over 2 weeks, they have lots of stuff coming in daily. Its a lengha with a trail…mughal style in tea pink, a bit like baadsha masjid style work, sheesha kaam, had seen nothing like it! They also delivered it earlier than our due date. Got my sisters barat and walima suits from here also. They were about 12,000 - haggled from 20,000, but were a great fit on them and very different to what i had seen elsewhere.
Got my gold set from Choice jewellers, indian type design with drops and crystals, they were great with us too, there are lots of lovely shops for sets in Liberty but Choice jewellers had a very unique design which i loved - not dissimilar to ones on the bridal sets thread! He also delivered on time.
Got some kaam walai suits from Basement at Liberty - Master Jee, guy had samples made and u coud pick any colour fabric/Kaam etc u wanted. Got my sisters mendi suits from here also. Also delivered on time and work was great. Alot of his work were copies of designers and stores such as Think Pink and Zardosi. So cheaper!
Got some fab suits from Cynosure - I could buy the whole shop!
Places such as Ali’s, Think Pink and Zardosi, in my view have similar prices to designers. Thnik Pinks lengha had an amazing fit and was very suprised!!!
- Cards - Japan Cards Hospital Road
Fabulous place!!! Western and high quality designs with matching favours, menu cards etc. Ppl here cant believe they are from Pakistan. Hospital Rd has lots of shops for cards but there are only a few that are decent. Manager was fab and gave me lots of extras!
- Defence
Went to Kuki Concepts (very rude), Karma, Sarah Salman, Hajra Hyat (all talk no action really!) HSY (he is tooooooooooo big for his boots now) and Maria B…Lajawanti, another one opp there…cant remember others!!!
Chose my Barat from Maria B, mum haggled it from 2 lakh 10, to 150,000. Ali’s and Zardosi had similar prices to them. Got my Mendi suit from here also for 15,000 which was amazing. I didnt see any decent mendi suits in Lahore apart from these designers. Hajra Hyat had an amazing one for 30,000 but it was too OTT for a mendi plus a bit to expensive as i had blown all my budget. I know ppl have mixed views on maria b, but i went to most designer places in lahore and loved her cuts and diamante work.
My lenga is the platinum one from MAria B, its amazing. They are willing to alter lenghas to suit ur budget and by far they had the best customer service. They even rung us when we got home to make sure we got home safely. Sweet. Got another suit from here which was gorgeous…cant wait to wear them
- Dulha House
Fab for men! Got my hubbies sherwani from here to match my barat lengha, they did the same work on the sherwani on his kusa, fab touch!!!
All in all, I have never bought a suit that has been expensive, saved up and thought would only get decent ones for when i got married, and Im so happy with them all, but wish i had bought clothes like that before and showed them off here in the uk…lol
im now a sucker for asian fashion - but i love it.
