Belarusian cotton jumpers are more expensive than Lacoste and Mountain
Euroradio tried on the Belarusian clothes made of Italian raw materials.
We notice non-Belarusian prices in the
boutique of "Areola" knitwear in the shopping center
"Stalitsa". They ask 360 thousand Belarusian roubles for a jumper.
"All our goods are made of 100%
cotton, and the factory has been at the market for 20 years", - the sales assistant says and offers to
try the clothes on.
The
cheapest jumper is Br 330 thousand. Two weeks ago it was more than Br 417
thousand - nearly 50 bucks!
"Our production is of a very high quality. The raw materials come from Italy and other manufacturers. This is why we have such prices", - explain representatives of the economic department of "Areola" factory.
An "Areola" jumper in the shop
There are enough people willing to pay for Belarusian jumpers as much money as for the world famous brands. 4 jumpers are bought daily, the sales assistants say. However, people wearing cotton clothes from "Areola" are not easily spotted in the city center.
"We are promoting our brand. People who know us realize that our production is rather popular. We have decreased our prices by 20% since June, as our production is not very profitable anyway" - they say at the factory.
Jumpers of Vitsebsk brand "Naviator" of the company "Kis" are sold in the GUM store for the same price - Br 350 thousand!
Jumper from the company "Kis"
Other Belarusian manufacturers are more modest. A "Svitanak" jumper costs Br 120 thousand, which is three times cheaper than "Areola"!
"We use knitwear thread. It is purchased at the stock, there is thread from India, Pakistan and whatsoever. We have a certain cycle of manufacture, starting from the thread. Those who have higher prices probably buy ready fabric this is why it is more expensive", - they say in the marketing department of the factory "Svitanak".
A "Svitanak" jumper for Br 120
thousand.
Everything
is clear with the Belarusian brands. However, we found a Colin’s shop in the "Europa"
shopping center. A Turkish jumper here is 1,5 times cheaper than
"Naviator" from Vitsebsk or a Belarusian "Areola" top.
Although it's the same 100% cotton.
"Our prices start from Br 279
thousand. We have shipments every week. We work directly with the factory"
- they say in the boutique.
In an online store they ask 35 dollars for an American T-shirt Mountain, while a T-shirt with a famous French crocodile Lacoste is even cheaper - 30 dollars.
In the left - an "Areola" top, in the right - a "Mountain" T-shirt
Even a Gucci T-shirt is available in the Russian online store for Br 270 thousand, vs Br 330 thousand for a jumper from Italian cotton made by "Areola".
Euroradio asked the passers-by which clothes they prefer to wear. Please listen to their replies:
