London:
Indian attire salwar-kameez, lehenga-choli and dupattas have become the reason for a business battle between NRI shop-owners and supermarkets in Britain, with a leading chain launching a sale of traditional Asian clothes.
The business battle broke out when retail major Asda launched its 'Asian Range' in 21 stores across the country this week, at prices considerably lower than the ones available at smaller shops owned by people of Indian-origin.
The prices of Asda's clothes designed and sourced from India begin from five pounds ($8.15), with a complete suit available for 26 pounds ($42). This has created ripples among Indian shop-owners who source their garments from India and sell them at much higher prices.
Indians traders across Leicester, Manchester, Birmingham and London are fearing considerable loss of revenue as Asda can afford to sell the Indian clothes at a much cheaper price, they say.
In times of recession, the NRI traders believe their cash-strapped customers may shift loyalties and buy Indian clothes from the supermarket chain.
"It will make a difference to us. We charge about 30 to 40 pounds for a suit... customers will always go for price over quality, especially at this moment. There is nothing we can do -- it's an impossibility," manager of Anokhi House of Sarees in Leicester, Neer Modha said.