By Nur Atiqah Quratulaini
KUCHING: As the Raya approaches, dedicated tailors in the community are putting in extra effort to ensure residents can look their best and make a statement during the festive season.
Skilled artisans are creating a wide range of designs, incorporating various fabrics, colours and embellishments to meet the diverse preferences of their customers.
From the traditional Baju Kurung to modern Baju Melayu, their craftsmanship is truly awe-inspiring.
Every piece is carefully created to capture the unique preferences and personalities of the individuals who will wear them during the festive season.
Recently, New Sarawak Tribune had the opportunity to interview several business owners regarding their sales for the upcoming Hari Raya celebration.
Mohamad Median, 53, who owns Zahra Violet, stated that there has been a noticeable surge in the growth of businesses like shops selling clothes for Baju Kurung and Baju Melayu, with their sales experiencing a significant increase.
“In the aftermath of Covid-19 many businesses finally began to make a profit. But with online business beginning to dominate, physical sales became less popular compared to past years,” he said.
“Our company only accepts orders when there is a high demand for a specific type of clothing from our customers. Dealing with just a handful of customers can be challenging, especially considering that the majority of our products are sourced from the peninsula,” he said.
He said due to a positive market trend, the prices of various goods have seen an upward trajectory.
“It is worth noting that certain businesses adjust the prices of their products based on the current cycle.
“However, in my business, I determine the prices for some of the products I sell. In this case, the price of the Baju Melayu remains unchanged, while the price of the Baju Kurung is subject to change due to fashion trends.”
Nur Rozila, 53, supervisor for Satex Sdn Bhd, said sales updates may not be available until the final week of the Eid al-Fitr season but pointed out that their sales do increase especially during Raya celebration.
“However, when it comes to purchasing decorations for events such as curtains and flowers, customers often prefer to plan ahead and buy them a month in advance.
“Most customers buy when it almost the time, like a week before Hari Raya. But I can say that our sales increase each year during Hari Raya season,” she said.
According to her, in terms of pricing, they rely a great deal on their suppliers.
“If they set a specific price, we must adhere to it. However, we will generally keep our product at the same price,” she said.
