Srinagar, June 16: Making it to sales in this city in the Himalayas seems to have impressed world leading designer collection –Bareez’e –so much that the Pakistan based firm plans to open as many as 200 outlets across India in the coming three years.
Not only this, the company has something surprising to offer for its aspiring customers in Kashmir. The Bareez’e people called Greater Kashmir on phone to express their viewpoint.

THE KASHMIR LINKS:
The company’s International Director, Zain Aziz, in an exclusive chat with Greater Kashmir said the company had longed to make its product reach Kashmir markets, a dream which finally realized earlier this week through Finesse of Tradition (FT), an exotic exhibition-cum sale of about a dozen Pakistani designer brands including Junaid Jamsheed and The Working Women.
Zain, whose mother heads the company, said: “My maternal ancestors were from Kashmir…We loved listening to tales of Kashmir from our great grandmother.”
The young man said the company was so fond of the Valley that Bareez’e has a specific collection inspired by Kashmir.
On the ongoing business fair at Sangarmaal, Srinagar’s fashionable mall, Zain said the entire Bareez’e family was elated.

INDIAN MARKET HUGE:
Zain, who sometime back held a similar exhibition in New Delhi, said: “India is emerging as a big market for my products.”
“We feel that Indian market is a huge opportunity, Indian economy is booming and the purchasing power is going higher... Moreover people are fond of our products,” he said.
Given the lot of “possibility of expansion”, Bareez’e plans to open as many as 200 outlets across the country. “Insha Allah we eye to open them within three years,” he said.
He however said the Indian market was “slightly different from Pakistani market.” “We are doing R&D to come up with specific products for the Indian market,” he added.

‘PRODUCTS NOT OVERPRICED’:
To a question that the brand Bareez’e was being seen as comparatively costly in Kashmir, Zain said: “Our product isn’t overpriced but is of high quality. It’s an aspirational product.”
Pleading his point, the businessman said: “Given our quality we have seen people preferring to buy products twice a year if they find four times procurement difficult.” “Making good quality is a bit expensive,” the man in his mid 30s added.
Asserting that the company doesn’t compromise on quality, he said: “We offer world class things, world class experience. Same is our vision for Kashmir market as well.”

ON INDO-PAK TRADE:
On India-Pakistani trade relations, the young entrepreneur said: “A lot is being done, trade barriers are being lifted… Many steps have been taken by the governments.”
But then he said “Visa system is a bit difficult.” “Moreover trade duties should be a bit different on products like ours,” he added.

FIRST EVER OFFER:
Usually, discount offers sound Greek with internationally leading dress designers.  But Bareez’e, hottie with upmarket clientele in Middle East and Europe is offering its “first ever discount offer of up to 30%” at the Srinagar outlet –FT –run by AlKhuddam Group of Companies.
As a goodwill gesture in connection with the upcoming Me’raj-e-Alam, the Bareez’e people announced to offer the “first ever discount”.
Zain said the discount was a “token of love for the people of Kashmir”.
“The response to our debut in Kashmir has been overwhelming and we too want to reciprocate accordingly,” said Zain over phone.
But does he plan to visit Kashmir? “We always aspired to… The day we get Visa InshaAllah, you will find us there the very next day,” he replies.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST