Once upon a time when our grandparents and parents would go to markets for shopping, the idea of shopping malls and designer outlets was alien to them. Even now when you talk to them about these big shopping malls which has taken place in Karachi, they would laugh and say, “humare zamanay me yeh sab kahan hota tha”.
Trip Down a Memory Lane
They used to shop from these old traditional markets located in old parts of Karachi. People especially women, would go there to find just the right clothes. They would buy unstictched clothes and would search long hours to find that matching dupatta for their dress. And as the mothers would be busy bargaining with the shopkeeper, fathers stand on the side with their children in one hand and shopping bags in other hand.
On Eid, These markets could resemble a chaotic land. Women, fighting their way over to the shop and shouting at the shopkeeper to show that perfect black sandal. That last minute shopping for laces and buttons to hand it out to their tailors and keep standing on their head till they finish their dresses. The traditional stalls for bangles and the shopkeeper calling out to the women passing by, promising to set the right deal. Children nagging their parents to buy them watches and funky shades from the side vendor standing on the footpath.
People would go there to buy their children’s clothes while children roam around the shop and ignore their parents pleas to come and see the clothes they selected. The most boring thing for children would be when their parents ask them to turn around when they are checking the right size for them.
These markets had all kinds of traditional dresses. Whether you want to buy dresses for a wedding or eid or any other event, you would find them all in these markets. These markets even have particular shops at one area for the wedding dresses so that people would know where to go.
Some of these markets are, Zamzama Market, Zainab Market, Boulton Market, Hyderi Market and Gulf.
Concept of Markets is Diminishing
These markets really played a role in people’s lives before the concept of shopping malls came in. Many people still do all these things but due to malls, this idea of traditional markets is growing smaller day by day.
