A girl purchases woollen clothes from the Lhasa Market in Patna. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Jan. 4: The temperature has taken a nosedive and it has brought the residents out of their homes on to the streets — to look for options to beat the cold.

Woollen shops, branded and otherwise, have made their place in the hearts of the residents. While, brand aficionados swear by the assured quality of the woollens, warm clothes that are not branded are also favourite for those who look for variety to make the wardrobe stylish within a limited budget.

“Keeping yourself warm during winter is no longer the only reason to have woollens. It is a style statement as well. You need to match your woollens with your whole attire to have a stylish look. After all, heads should turn during winter too!” said 23-year-old Vasundhara.

For 25-year-old Sneha, winter is not only the season to cover up in woollens. It is just the start of another fashion season. She said: “Girls have taken to wearing shorts during summers but they are bound to cover themselves from head to toe during winter to keep them away from cold. However, that cannot mean an end to their fashion season. They can create their own look by experimenting with different woollens that are available in the markets these days.”

The shops in the capital are also cashing in on the season. Jagdish Prasad Khemka, owner of Sevika Readymade Garments, said: “The sale of woollens has kept its pace. We have already sold 60 per cent of our materials. The dip in temperatures has resulted in an increased sale of woollens.”

Khemka, whose shop carries brands like Pringle, Gadoni, Monte Carlo and Casablanca, said long and slim-fitted coats are new this winter season. While the coats range between Rs 3,000 and Rs 6,000, ladies sweaters range from Rs 600 to 4,000.

But branded shops still cannot replace one of the oldest market in the capital — Lhasa Market — where buyers can shop to their hearts’ content without making a hole in their pocket. Run by the Tibet Refugee Organisation for Tibetan refugees, the market has been welcoming buyers for more than 50 years.

One of the makeshift stalls at the market — stall number 36 — is owned by Youden and her husband Thamchu. The couple has been catering to their customers for almost 20 years. “Every October we come to Patna to sell our woollens, which we start to make three months before coming here,” said 48-year-old Youden. She added: “Our woollens are reasonable and last long. That is the reason our customers keep coming back to us.”