Couturiers on cloud nine as Christmas festivities in air

HYDERABAD: Christmas is around and devotees are busy planning fasts, feasts and festivities. Since the pandemic has been lying low in recent times, and life is limping back to normalcy, Christians in the city are planning to make it big this time around.

As the preparations are on for masses and get-togethers on the occasion of Yule, a section of seasoned tailors are in high spirits. After a long break, they started getting work, as more people prefer to stitch their suits rather than buying a ready-made one.

According to suit specialists, during this year’s festival, people are opting for suits to be stitched. The trendy ones for men this season are three-piece suits, two button suits and tuxedos. Ladies’ tailors too are witnessing a large number of customers this season. As last Christmas was low-key, those in the tailoring business had a real bad time. Adding to that, there was an uncertainty in churches whether the combined service or masses were going to be held or not. This confession restrained people from going for new clothes. Devotees dress at their best during Christmas in churches.

Joshua Amara, a music teacher, said, “Last Christmas season was dull as most of the people lost employment, and there was a doubt among people whether they could attend prayers and other services in churches. This year, it is more of a normalcy, which is making us stitch new clothes.”

According to G. Muralidar of Sumangal Men’s Tailors at Abids, “For past two months the business has been booming due to weddings, which gave us a ray of hope as pandemic left many tailors jobless all these days. I have been into this job for the past 42 years and my shop is quite popular in suit stitching. After the lockdown, we hardly had customers till September.” “This season of Christmas is profitable to us as more men are showing interest in going for suits.”

Fazlay Rahman, a master cutter, said, “Trend changes each year. This year, customers are asking for three piece suits and tuxedos. Two button suit is always in style.

Mohhammed Dastigir of John Tailors at Noorkhan Bazar said, “We are getting the customers for stitching shirts and trousers. This year, we are getting early customers. We were apprehensive whether we would have business or not. But it started with a happy note.”

Rachel Halifax of Zoey Creations, tailors for women, East Marredpally, Secunderabad, said, “Christmas is always a bigger festival for my clientele, but last year it was a bad experience. Our tailors ran out of work, but this year, we are getting good work.”