Fashion and boutique houses in Bangladesh are staring at huge losses after the outbreak of the coronavirus dealt a massive blow to preparations for the upcoming Bangla New Year. Local fashion brands have invested millions over the last two months to create products for Pahela Baishakh, one of the biggest cultural events of the year in Bangladesh.

But now that markets are totally shut down, unsold attires designed specifically for the festival are likely to set fashion houses back millions of takas in losses.

Bangladesh reported its first cases of the coronavirus on Mar 8. But the number of customers in shops began to dwindle this month, prompted by a surge in infections.

The government recently extended a nationwide shutdown to Apr 25 in a bid to limit the spread of the infection, allowing only a handful of emergency services and daily staple shops to operate during the lockdown.

The coronavirus has infected 424 people and killed 27 in Bangladesh so far. Under the circumstances, the government has suspended the festivities and mass gatherings for Pahela Baishakh and Chaitra Sankranti, which fall in the coming week.

Bangladesh Shop Owners' Association also ordered superstores, malls and markets across the country to shut down from Mar 25, with low customer attendance being one of the main reasons behind the decision.

Fashion houses in Dhaka’s Mirpur-2 are usually packed with customers during this time of the year. But the suspension of Pahela Baishakh celebrations due to a nationwide coronavirus outbreak has left them empty and forlorn this year. Photo: Asif Mahmud OveLocal fashion houses usually make shirts, tee shirts, fatua for men and salwar kameez, kurti, tops, sarees for women on occasion of Pahela Baishakh. They make children's attire too. The designs, colours and themes of these offerings are exclusively based on the Bangla New Year, making them hard to sell later.

The top 10 local fashion brands, including Anjan’s, Kay Kraft, Banglar Mela, Rong, Shadakalo, Bibiana, Nipun, Deshal, Prabartana and Shristi, sell their products from a common shop named ‘Deshidosh.’

The fashion sector in the country makes half of its annual sales during Pahela Baishakh and Eid, AKM Golam Mowla from Deshidosh told bdnews24.com. This year, they had a sales target of Tk 20 million, he said.

“We have been preparing our products, worth about Tk 25 million for the upcoming Eid and Pahela Baishakh since February, and now we’re stuck with them at the store.”

“We create the design and buy the materials which are crafted by small producers. Thousands of people are involved in the entire process from production to marketing,” he said.

Banglar Mela has prepared products worth Tk 15 million to be sold in its 12 shops across the country for Pahela Baishakh.

https://bdnews24.com/business/2020/04/11/fashion-industry-reeling-ahead-of-pahela-baishakh-as-coronavirus-bites