Business for many boutique owners in the Valley has turned gloomy this wedding season. Boutique owners account this decline in business to the fall in the number of auspicious days this wedding season. And this has inadvertently affected business, they say.

The demand for bridal dresses and party wear increases by 50 percent, especially during the wedding season, say boutique owners. However, this season, the demand remains to be around 25 percent this wedding season.

According to a boutique owner, monthly sales usually go up to around Rs900,000 during the wedding season, which is almost three times more than the usual business these stores do in the off-season.“During the off-season, our monthly turnover amounts to Rs300,000,” said the boutique owner.

According to boutique designers, increasing average income, a burgeoning fashion- and brand-conscious populace, and a thriving wedding photography trend are some of the main reasons why people are investing in designer dresses, especially for the wedding season.

A few years ago, people used to buy the bridal dresses and party wear for weddings through small sari stores. But now, boutiques have become people’s first choice when it comes to weddings.

And to capitalise on this trend, and to increase their market reach, boutiques have also started offering designer dresses at affordable prices to cater to middle-class income customers.

When it comes to trending fashion choices, Ranju Shakya, of Kalimati, said that lehengas have become the top choice for women. Call it a cultural influence from our neighbouring country, but lehengas have become the first choice for many women when it comes to bridal wear. It is easy to wear and looks great, says Shakya.

Sita Bhattarai, managing director of Sarthak Fashion Boutique, said that a heavily embroidered blouse teamed with a simple sari is also on trend for the wedding season. Bhattarai added that her boutique has been offering bridal dresses starting from Rs18,000. “We are designing bridal and party dresses according to the budget of the customer,” she said. The price for party wear starts from Rs7,000. 

Binisha Manandhar, owner of Yasin Siddique Boutique, said that the demand for velvet embroidery lehenga is also high in demand for brides. The price for bridal velvet lehenga starts from Rs35,000, she said. 

The wedding season in the country lasts from mid-November to mid-December and from mid-January through mid-March. And despite business being slow this season, boutique owners are hopeful that they will do good business in mid-January to mid-February, as there are many auspicious wedding days in the month.