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Clothing becomes more personal with tailoring as you know that no one else can wear it as well as you do. You! takes a look.

The knowledge and art of tailoring, of cutting and sewing cloth and constructing clothes from a pattern, is not an easy one to master. Not everyone can make clothes as it is a talent that requires patience and understanding of aesthetics. Once upon a time the business of tailoring was flourishing and they were the busiest people around. But in the past few years, the tailoring business has been affected due to the rising trend of ready-made-clothes. However, one can't deny the fact that today's pret wear is mass-produced and many a time it becomes a challenge to find clothing that fits perfectly. This is where tailoring comes in. Every single person has a unique build, and with a skilled tailor, you can have the perfect fitting. Tailors understand different types of fabrics, fit, and cuts and can give you honest advice on what type of cut will flatter your body type. Keeping this in mind, You! talks to a few Karachi-based tailors in a bid to find out how the ready-made business has affected the tailoring profession...

Master Saeed owns a shop in P.E.C.H.S and has been in the tailoring business for more than 30 years now. According to Master Saeed, today's 'ready to wear' styles aren't designed to ideally suit everyone's body type and that is why our customers rely on us to provide them that perfect fit. "Due to ready-made clothes our work has decreased at least 50 per cent in the past 5 to 7 years. But I have a loyal clientele that have been coming to me since generations," he shares.

Regarding the problems that he has to face, Saeed says, "Load shedding is one of the major problems that hinders our work. We usually have power shortage of four to five hours per day and because of that we are unable to meet our deadlines. And then the high prices are also another issue. Every six months the expenses increase. We have to cover costs of the material, the labourers and the shop rent. I have experienced drastic changes in prices. Things were easier before because the prices were controlled. Moreover, the customers refuse to pay when we increase our prices. They don't understand that our prices correlate with the inflation in the country," he states.

Another tailor, Muhammad Rehan Shaikh, owner of Top Stitch Shop located in Gulistan-e-Johar, is quite optimistic about his line of work. "These days, many women just make do with how clothes come off the rack, but savvier women understand the transformational power of good tailoring. Custom-made tailoring and alterations can transform an everyday garment into an item that feels and looks amazing to wear," stresses Rehan.

"Even though, the pret-a-porter business has definitely affected tailoring, but people who know a thing or two about the finished product of a tailor always opt for us. Ready-made is not for everyone. Some people have sizes that cannot be easily found in boutiques. Normally in boutiques you get small, medium or large sizes. Women with bigger sizes or women who are finicky about stitching and finishing prefer tailors over ready-made," he adds.

Many women consider tailoring too pricey and instead prefer wearing today's easily available stitched outfits. "Women have become more fussy and they want us to make replicas of designer's original cuts and designs. Of course it is very time consuming and if we charge extra for extra effort, they make hue and cry," he shares.

When asked about the reason behind the switch from custom-made to ready-made, Rehan is of the view, "Every now and then there is a brand being launched. And people who want cheap clothes go for pret wear, as there are so many low-cost options available in the market."

On the other hand, master Imran of Iqra tailoring shop in R J Mall, Gulshan-e-Iqbal is of the view that the ready-made business has affected us greatly. "The business is just normal and we do not earn high profits. It is the boutique people who are minting a lot of money. We stitch a suit for Rs 1200 to 1500. It might sound a lot to the customer but we get a profit of only 500 out of it. Why would anyone spend money on buying a suit priced Rs 3000 and then get it stitched for another Rs 1200 or more? So, it is definitely the prices that are pushing the customers away. But in my opinion all readymade clothes have a similar style and women who want to stand out still opt for tailor made outfits," he points out.

Amongst the many other problems that the tailors face are load shedding and the availability of skilled labours. According to master Saeed, "Everyone just wants a good pay but nobody is skilled enough. Many labours who are proficient at their work are hired by women designers who make them work in their own homes and pay comparatively better than what we offer them." Rehan shares the same thoughts. "Usually we have to put up with kaarigars' tantrums. They have a long list of demands. They want a high pay, vacations and less work timings. When they don't get that, they quit. Apart from that, there are issues with the electricity."

According to Saeed, Imran and Rehan, despite all the problems, the profession gives them enough to run their households and live a comfortable life. "Even though, the ready to wear business has taken the fashion industry by storm, it is the skilled tailors that can give any outfit an extra edge. Thank God, we get paid according to the quality of our work and all one needs to do is polish their skills," informs Imran.

Today skilled tailors can be found all over the world and they are all standing in the long shadow of tradition and craftsmanship. No matter what height or weight you are, having your clothes professionally tailored is an easy way to achieve a more flattering appearance. When your clothing fits you properly, you have more confidence, you carry yourself better and don't feel like you're hiding under baggy, ill-fitting attire. Clothing becomes more personal with tailoring as you know that no one else can wear it as well as you do.Read more at:queenieau.com | bridesmaid dress