A quilt maker is stitching quilt at Rail Ghumti in Bogura town. Photo: Metropolis-
Rakib Shanto-
The demand for blankets has increased as average winter temperature of the country in recent times has comparatively decreased. In order to stay warm throughout the winter nights, people are now switching to blankets from traditional duvets like quilt.
Mozammel Haque, quilt trader at Thana Mor in Bogura town, said a lot of space is needed to keep the quilt. Meanwhile, blankets are kept in limited space. Due to space crisis, consumers are using blankets instead of quilts.
He mentioned that the decrease in the severity of winter is also another reason which has created adverse impact on the use of quilts. However, this year the demand for quilts has increased a little bit as average winter temperature has increased this time compared to previous years.
Local quilt traders said HBRT cotton is mainly used to make quilts, but it is now going to cotton yarn mills. As a result, HBRT cotton is now rarely found in the markets. Meanwhile, synthetic cotton has flooded the markets.
HBRT cotton is available in some parts of southern region and Chattogram, but it is not available in Dhaka and North Bengal, said the traders.
Some consumers said due to a few people, the tradition of quilt still survives in towns. The warmth of a quilt is never found in a blanket.
They added that many traditional quilt makers have left the profession due to advanced technology. In the future everything of duvets will be taken over by machines.
The quilt traders in Bogura said earlier there was an order of 15/20 quilts every month, which has now decreased to four to five. So, many have been forced to change the profession.
But according to experts, the quilt is relatively healthier than the blanket. In particular, people with respiratory problems should not use blankets. Many doctors still recommend quilts over blankets.
