I am traveling to south east Asia and on my way back I will stop in Karachi for about 5 days and want to do some serious shopping. I have never been there so please help me out here. Whom I will stay with in Karachi is not in fashion and so I will not get any help from there but they will take me to the shops. I want to buy some really nice formal wears and also some semi formal wears.
Please let me know which shops I should go to for non designers really nice formals and semi formals. Given the time maybe I will end up buying everything from non designers which I do not have any heart burn provided they are good quality fabric, kaam and fitting is good.
I want some designers wears provided they are with in my reach. Could you help me with designers who’s outfits are nice and prices are reasonable. I know it is kind of relative so if you could give me some price range for ideas that would help me.
Karachi is very big and like I said I do not know anything about Karachi so please suggest me which shops I should visit. I would also like to buy some gold with pearls or stone jewelry so suggest me where to go and also where I should to buy good quality costume jewelery.
Oh one more thing what is the trend now a days in formal and semi formal wears in Pakistan so have some sort of ideas before get there. Is 5 days is too short for my shopping? If you have other suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!
Well it depends upon your budget, Rs. 10,000 up go to Zamzama (you'll be lucky to find anything even in Rs. 10,000 that is US $ 100 in taht area). CGulf Shopping Mall in Clifton is lower than zamzama. Lower than that range go to Tariq Road and Hyderi plus Milinium Mall. For ready made 5 days is fine. But if you want custom made, ask your relatives to find a darzi before ghand who will stitch stuff in a few days. You can ask them to ship it you later if that's an option. But ready made is good.
Rim Jhim in Clifton and Mohsin's and Rizwan Moazam at Tariq Road are good for non- designer semi formal and formal stuff. You might like Chineyere by Bareeze' (branches at Clifton and Tariq Road) and Exclusive in Tariq Road. Plus there are loads of non designer boutiques around those areas.
While at Zamzama, pop into some designer boutiques too, you might find something nice, within your range.
Try PLK too at Tariq Road for some heavy formlas, great kaam and they sometimes stitch on an urgent basis too. Only thing is there can be strikes and otherunrest in teh city which can shut down markets. Pray that doesn't happen.
Are 5 days enough? Not really, but I'll rather go for 5 days than not at all.
Thanks a lot for the info! For a nice designer wear I think I could spend up to 1200.00 so any idea for this price which designer boutique I should visit?
Is Zamzama a mall or an area? Trying to get as much information as possible before I get there. Since the people I will stay with are elderly, and told me that they do not about shopping malls and clothes but they will try to go with me if I tell them where to go. Do you guys know any good darzi in Karachi? How is Karma ?
Have you guys had any experience with designers if so please give me their names. I will try to go the non designator rs shops names you mentioned. Do you guys have some favorite shops where you guys like to shop most of the time. What kind of formals Khaadi and Generation carry ?
I would like get more names and tips so please if anyone have more names please do share. Oh, if they drop me off at the shopping center, will I be able to do it by myself or I will need some local to be with me. I do not speak Urdu but understand. I am kind of nervous about trip but at the same time I do not want to give up this opportunity to shop in Karachi! Hope to hear see response. Thanks.
Beachbow is there any cousin or friend who knows their way around Karachi shops be able to take you around? Or maybe you can get hold of a personal shopper in Karachi who will take you to the best places and get you the best deals and help with stitching and follow up on your clothing orders. I remember reading here that it was sgc's aunt who is a personal shopper in Karachi, maybe you can get hold of her information.
raania, I spoke with them and they said that they would l take me but I have to tell them which stores I want to go to.Yes, I read about sgc's aunt and later she wrote that her aunt was not in good health .
If I get some good store names , then I can just shop there instead of trying to roam around Karachi which will not be practical for me. I will be there for a short time so trying to get as much information as possible to make this trip little less stressful.
When you say 1200 is that Pakistani rupee, $ or pounds ? I am assuming Dollars or pounds, anyways, in that price you can get non designer formals or semi formals or designer cotton shirts only or maybe even an outfit. It's very in onwards in Pakistan to buy shirts only and pair them with separate lowers ( pants/ churidars/ palazzos / leggings etc) and duppatas if desired.
Zamzama is a shopping area like a strip mall in the Defence area in Karachi. There you may be able to get by without speaking Urdu but I highly caution you against going anywhere without your relatives. People around you will catch on that you have come from the West and you may be targeted for robbery etc. Good thing is that AshiAna shopping center, Zamzama , Gulf shopping center are all in the same area within 30 minutes or less of each other. More higher end shopping centers like The Forum and Park Towers are in the same area as well. Even though Park Towers is an expensive shopping mall, there are some stores there which are not as expensive as the rest. Funk Asia is one store by designer Amir Adnan that you may like, it's a bit lower priced than other designers.
About locations, tell your relatives that these are all in the Clifton / Defense area. Gulf Shopping mall is on the left hand side right after you come down from Clifton bridge. Clifton Bridge is quite famous, people will know it and Gulf shopping mall's name is right up front. AshiAna shopping center has great fabric and I think maybe some boutiques too and it's about a 5 minute drive from Gulf shopping Center after Agha's supermarket, (quite famous in the area too but doesn't have clothes ), on the left hand side as well. After Ashiana Park Towers is after the 2 talwar ( 2 swords) roundabout) more near the main Clifton area on the right hand side. It's a big shopping mall with a food court etc too, The Forum is around there as well. Zamzama is further down in the Defence area. Maybe 15 20 minutes. It would be best to get a rent a car with driver from a reputable company if your relatives are not too familiar with the area. Bring them along because you will need them to bargain down prices esp. in Gulf and Ashiana. Ask them over the phone if they know where these places are so you might be able to save on the rent a car as these run expensive. Taxis are another but try not to let the driver know that you are from abroad due to security reasons.
Gulf is the most reasonable prices among the above. If you can't go to Clifton/ Defence, you can try Tariq road and Hyderi. The shopping centers in these areas are more reasonably priced too. There is Dolmen mall in both these areas which is good. Try Rim Jhim in Clifton too ( ask the Gulf shopping store keepers where it is, it's quite near there and on the main road, not hidden away). Plk store at Tariq road and other boutiques in Tariq road at Rabi center etc are also good and reasonably priced. One thing, plk has non stitched clothes mostly but ask if they can get it stitched on an urgent basis. I have found them to be good in this regards and Thierry Kama and fitting was very good in my experience. Tip, the higher you go up first floor to third etc , lower the prices are. Bargaining is very common in Tariq road and Hyderi, don't forget.
Btw Karma is expensive, though slightly less than other mainstream designers, you can't get heavy worked formals , in 1200 dollars there. It's in Clifton too I think. There's labels store too in KhayBane sham sheer Defence phase 5 look them up on facebook to get their number and call ahead for directions. Labels carry a variety of designer labels. Try and see if you cN get something.
They carry Karma too I think.