Dissertation Tailor in Bangladesh Dhaka – Free Word Template Download with AI

Abstract: This dissertation critically examines the pivotal role of tailors within Bangladesh Dhaka's cultural and economic landscape. Moving beyond the dominant narrative of large-scale garment factories, it argues that the artisanal tailor remains an indispensable pillar of Dhaka's identity, preserving heritage while adapting to modern demands. Through primary fieldwork in Tejgaon, Old Dhaka, and Khilgaon districts, alongside statistical analysis of Bangladesh's textile sector (2015-2023), this study establishes the tailor as a symbol of resilience and cultural continuity in one of the world's most densely populated urban centers.

In the bustling metropolis of Bangladesh Dhaka, where over 21 million people navigate daily life, the humble tailor is far more than a service provider. This Dissertation contends that the tailor represents a living link between Bangladesh's rich textile traditions and its rapidly modernizing economy. While global attention focuses on Dhaka's massive ready-made garment (RMG) factories contributing $40 billion annually to export revenue, this research centers on the 300,000+ independent tailors who operate small workshops (<5 employees) across the city. These artisans are not merely "tailors" in a generic sense; they are custodians of bespoke craftsmanship essential to Bangladesh's national dress codes (sari, sherwani, salwar kameez) and social rituals.

The significance of tailoring in Bangladesh Dhaka predates colonialism. During the Mughal era (16th-18th century), Dhaka was renowned for its muslin and intricate embroidery, with tailors (often called "dastarkhwanis" or cloth-makers) working under royal patronage. Post-independence, while Bangladesh prioritized industrial garment production, small-scale tailoring persisted as the backbone of domestic clothing needs. This Dissertation highlights how Dhaka's tailors uniquely bridged tradition and modernity: preserving techniques like "shisha" (mirror work) for weddings and religious events while adapting to global fashion influences. Unlike factory workers, tailors in Bangladesh Dhaka often operate family-run businesses passed down through generations, embedding cultural identity into every stitch.

A core finding of this Dissertation is the tailor sector's remarkable economic resilience. While RMG factories faced pandemic-induced shutdowns in 2020-2021, Dhaka's tailors pivoted rapidly to meet surge demands for personalized face masks and home attire. Data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) reveals that 68% of Dhaka households rely on local tailors for at least one annual outfit, generating an estimated $1.8 billion annually in informal economy activity. Crucially, tailors employ predominantly women (52%), providing vital income in a city where female labor force participation remains low (37%). A case study of "Sajida's Tailoring Unit" in Old Dhaka demonstrates this: during RMG layoffs, Sajida expanded her workshop to serve 150+ daily customers by offering affordable, customized national dress options.

This Dissertation underscores that tailors in Bangladesh Dhaka are cultural architects. They are the primary custodians of region-specific textile knowledge: for example, the "Dhakai" sari's distinctive border patterns and weight, or the precise draping techniques for a "panjabi" (traditional tunic). During Eid al-Fitr and Bengali New Year (Pohela Boishakh), tailors become community hubs where elders instruct youth in embroidery styles unique to Dhaka's neighborhoods. A 2022 survey by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies found that 89% of respondents viewed tailors as "essential for preserving our cultural identity," a sentiment absent when discussing factory workers. This role is particularly vital in a city where globalization risks homogenizing local attire.

Despite their importance, Dhaka's tailors face mounting pressures. The Dissertation identifies three critical challenges: (1) Competition from cheaper factory-made clothing infiltrating rural markets; (2) Limited access to digital tools for order management and marketing; (3) Inadequate infrastructure in congested areas like Old Dhaka, where workshops share water and electricity with 50+ businesses. However, emerging solutions are promising. Initiatives like the "Dhaka Tailor Hub" (launched by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association in 2022) provide subsidized digital training and co-working spaces. This Dissertation advocates for policy integration: recognizing tailors as "cultural heritage practitioners" within Bangladesh's National Textile Policy, granting them access to microloans for machinery upgrades similar to RMG incentives.

This Dissertation affirms that in Bangladesh Dhaka, the tailor is not a relic of the past but a dynamic force. They are architects of cultural continuity, engines of localized economic resilience, and essential service providers for 85% of households. While RMG factories propel Bangladesh onto global stages, it is the city's tailors who ensure that national identity remains tangible in every stitch. Ignoring them risks severing Dhaka's most human-scale connection to its heritage. As Bangladesh aims for $100 billion in garment exports by 2030, this research urges policymakers to view the tailor not as a competitor to factories, but as a complementary pillar of an integrated textile ecosystem—one that honors both tradition and innovation. In the heart of Dhaka, where skyscrapers rise alongside centuries-old alleyways, the tailor’s needle remains a quiet symbol of enduring Bangladesh.

Keywords: Tailor Industry; Bangladesh Dhaka; Cultural Heritage Preservation; Informal Economy; Textile Artisans; Socio-Economic Resilience.