KUCHING: Looking for the perfect baju raya to wear for the upcoming celebration?
It may already be the eleventh hour but there is still time and the best part is, these days you can head for the boutiques or just click a few pads on your keyboard and make your purchase online.
Both options have their clientele with some still relying on buying what they can see, feel and try out before making a purchase while others, arguably the more adventurous, preferring to take their chances online.
Speaking to New Sarawak Tribune, Iffa Natasya, 24, shared her shopping experience, both at physical stores and online.
Doing so at physical stores is quicker and it is easier to get the correct size, she declared outright.
“However, it can be a waste a lot of energy to go from one store to another,” she said, adding it can be exhausting.
Having said that, Iffa leans towards shopping for baju Raya at physical stores instead of online.
“Buying online is usually slow and takes a few days to process the delivery of Raya clothes,” she added.
And she said it is absolutely crucial to know the right size before purchasing online.
“It’s important to know what size suits you the best. Otherwise, you will be disappointed and just waste your money,” she said.
But Iffa conceded that there are advantages in shopping for baju raya online as opposed to physical stores.
“There are definitely more options and more fabulous one too,” she said, adding that online shopping is also more convenient.
“Everything is just at our fingertips, and we can get the best quality of baju kurung according to our favourite brands in every corner of the country,” she said.
To ensure the baju raya purchased online fits well and meets one’s expectations, Iffa advised people to adopt the trial and error method.
“Read the measurement carefully. Make sure that it matches your measurement. Also read the reviews to confirm that the fabric displayed is what it is,” she said.
All said, as to whether she prefers to shop for baju Raya at physical stores or online, Iffa chooses the online option.
“I prefer online because we can wear a lot of new designs that we’ve never seen at local physical stores,” she explained.
Iffa believes that both physical stores and online stores have their own merits, and shopping for baju raya will always be popular for every celebration.
Meanwhile, Zureen Azzwa Abdullah, 25, said there were pros and cons to both shopping in a physical store and online.
“I found that there were both advantages and disadvantages to shopping in a physical store.
“One of the things I liked about it was that I could choose the design, colour, pattern, and size by myself without any regrets. However, one of the things I disliked was the inconsistent customer service of the shop.
“Additionally, since the baju raya had been tried on by many other customers, I had to consider the hygiene of the clothes,” she said.
To ensure the quality and size of the baju raya when shopping online, Zureen relies on customer feedback. Customer reviews can provide a good picture of the size and fit of the baju raya.
Zureen recommended checking out TikTok shops that sell baju raya through live streaming.
“These shops often provide detailed explanations of the baju raya they are selling, and you can see the colour and pattern through the live streaming,” she said.
For, Nur Hazwani, 24, she said buying raya clothes physically is actually better for her because she can see the design and quality of the fabric directly.
“We can identify whether the quality of the material is worth the price offered. I like buying physically, but sometimes there are unattractive designs sold. Online designs, on the other hand, are more attractive,” she said.
Hazwani has never had any negative experiences while shopping for baju raya at physical stores, but she and her family decided to shop online for this year’s Eid celebration.
“One of the reasons is that the prices are cheaper and if there is no Eid clothing boutique in my area, we would have to go to Miri to buy it.
“To save time and energy, we prefer to buy online only. Alhamdulillah, all the clothes that arrived were of the best quality and met our family’s taste,” she added.
Hazwani recommends buying Raya clothes from online stores especially the TikTok Shop.
“The advantage is in terms of price because it is cheaper. For example, I bought clothes from a branded store on their website where they did not have a flash sale price, but on TikTok shop, I could buy it at a cheaper price.
“In addition, I received free postage, of course, I grabbed it immediately,” she said.
Hazwani prefers to shop for baju raya online because it saves time and energy and the prices are lower and worth it.
She believes that selling baju raya online will be more popular than physical stores in the future, especially for those who live in areas without access to boutique stores.
