According to a Gilani Research Foundation survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan, getting clothes stitched from tailors is common among the majority of Pakistanis. Ninety three percent claim to get men's clothes, 54 percent get women's clothes and 51 percent get their children' clothes stitched by tailors.
Ready-made clothes are usually bought by people from higher income groups. Majority, about 48 per cent, said they get their clothes stitched from male tailors, and 29 percent claimed to use both male and female tailors. Only 14 per cent of the respondents use female tailors.
A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the country were read out a list of methods used to make clothes and were asked which methods do they use to make clothes for the men, women and children in their households. The data shows an overwhelming preference for getting men's clothes stitched by tailors, cited by 93 per cent of the respondents. Only 10 per cent stitch them at home or get them ready-made.
One percent gave no response. Ready-made menswear is used more among urbanites and, perhaps due to the higher prices, by respondents from higher income groups. Interestingly, women's clothes are either stitched by tailors or at home, both giving a greater say in the style/designing as well as greater control over the budget. Fifty four percent of the respondents claimed to get women's clothes stitched by tailors, and 43 per cent stitch them at home.
Only 3per cent said they buy them ready-made. One percent gave no response. The majority of respondents from lower income groups stitch women's clothes at home, but interestingly respondents from higher income groups use tailors for stitching clothes rather than buying them readymade.
According to majority of the respondents around 51 percent they get their children's clothes made from tailors. Twenty nine percent stitch them at home and 19 per cent claimed to buy ready-made clothes for their children. Two per cent of the respondents had no children or gave no response. Children's ready-made clothes are affordable to respondents for higher income groups, while 39 per cent claim to buy them for their children.