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The Evolution of Saree Shops: A Cultural Landmark Through the Decades

When it comes to traditional attire for Indian women, sarees have been an automatic pick for centuries, and they still are. Just like the variations of sarees kept changing and new designs and patterns kept getting introduced, saree shops have evolved drastically. How we see saree shops nowadays hasn’t been the scenario forever.

With changing lifestyles, customer requirements, and market trends, saree shops have evolved greatly. Priya Gopal Bishoyi, the best saree shop in Kolkata, is the brightest example of this constant evolution because it’s been operational for over 160 years in Kolkata. This blog will help you get insights into how saree shops in Kolkata became what they are today.

Early 1900s

Saree has been an integral element of the Bengali culture forever, and almost every woman in Kolkata used to wear different variants of sarees as the primary attire in the early 1900s. Saree selling back then was completely different from what it is now. In those days, saree shops were predominantly generational family businesses. Several generations of a family used to run eminent shops, and customers used to buy from them based on trust and personal relations.

The concept of visiting different shops to check out more variations wasn’t much evident back then. Every buyer used to consider a specific store as the best saree shop in Kolkata for themselves among multiple stores, solely based on personal acquaintance with the shop owner. They used to pick sarees from the options stocked by that specific shop, and saree shopping was more heritage-driven and less option-oriented. Word-of-mouth was a pivotal factor for saree shops backs then.

Mid-1900s

The trend changed a bit in the mid-1900s, as family-run saree shops transitioned into large saree outlets with wider variations and huge stocks. Certain recognized saree shops became market dominators, while other small shops still retained their business depending on word-of-mouth.

Since print media peaked in this era, the trend of print advertisements took over, and large-scale saree outlets harnessed their utility to bring in more interested buyers. Unlike the early 1900s, the available saree options weren’t limited to region-specific sarees only. Customers became keen on exploring sarees from different corners of India, and saree retailers started stocking them as well.

Evolution of Saree Shops

Big saree outlets became hotshot shopping venues where women used to spend hours checking out different saree variations with their friends and family.

1980s-2000s

This is the era where saree sales underwent a drastic shift with the exposure to global markets. Branding became more prevalent as some pioneering saree brands popped up and the showroom culture took over the market in full force.

Well-lit and well-designed showrooms with dedicated trial rooms and air-conditioning became non-negotiable for established brands and shops. Customer experience became the utmost priority, and inventive fabrics from different corners of the world became trendy. Coming to saree designs, synthetic fabrics started earning popularity among women, and sarees of specific styles and weaving techniques started selling like hotcakes.

The Modern Era

In today’s era of e-commerce dominance, recognized and heritage saree shops are still surviving due to their background and cultural elegance. However, even the best saree shop in Kolkata, like Priya Gopal Bishoyi, had to emphasize online presence and branding to earn an edge over the competitors. Saree shopping is going to be more online-centric in the future, and saree shops will have to keep up with the contemporary changes to thrive.

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