Dressing the part

After spending most of our first week in Karachi being lazy during the day and partying it up, wedding-style, at night, we're now headed out and about much more in the second half of our trip.

Labor in Pakistan is incredibly cheap (but since no one will discuss salaries with me, I can't pinpoint exact numbers), and this has a trickle-down effect on all aspects of life. For example, upper-class households have multiple servants. My dad's home is quite modest, and yet he has a chowkidar (guard/watchman), driver, cleaning/laundry lady and a cook. Not too shabby.

You can also get incredible deals on raw materials over on this side of the world, and the 1-2 combo with inexpensive labor means that, among other things, it's a snap to have custom clothing made on the cheap. This is how my aunt, Rubaba, ended up with a closetful of beautiful handmade shalwar kameez that she let me borrow for our slew of wedding functions last week.

My grandmother is being kind enough to host a reception for me and Nick on the night before we leave -- a "Meet the Newlyweds" type of deal. We're both having custom outfits made (mine's done and just needs altering) and Nick's paid several visits to a very swank tailor shop since our arrival for fittings and the like.




His clothes are being made at Moosajee's, a place with a great reputation here in Karachi. As you can see, fabric abounds. I asked, and they have nine floors of the stuff. Nice.




In this photo, Nick is being fitted for a sherwani, which is essentially a tailored top (it looks a bit like a long frock coat, only made of lighterweight material) one would wear over shalwar trousers. This is for our reception. Don't be fooled by the white collar -- this isn't a priest's robe! It'll be replaced with black fabric in the final version.

















Not being one to miss out on an opportunity, my dad suggested Nick also have a Western-style suit made here. 100% wool, imported from Italy, at the low low price of $30/yard.