Question:
The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
The return to the tailor is the juxtaposition of three key things for the mindful Indian shopper. The first is the conscious shift away from the homogeneity of fast fashion, the idea of a hundred other people owning exactly the same Zara trench coat or H & M pleated skirt. The second is an actual understanding of the waste behind the fast fashion market, and wanting not to contribute to that anymore. The last is the shift toward customisation and fit—the idea of having imaginations brought to life and to have them fit exactly; without paying exorbitant rates for that bespoke tailoring. For the individual with a keen fashion sense and a genuine desire to move away from the waste and uniformity of fast fashion without paying the premium for it that indie brands would invariably demand, the tailor is the perfect crossover.
The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
The return to the tailor is the juxtaposition of three key things for the mindful Indian shopper. The first is the conscious shift away from the homogeneity of fast fashion, the idea of a hundred other people owning exactly the same Zara trench coat or H & M pleated skirt. The second is an actual understanding of the waste behind the fast fashion market, and wanting not to contribute to that anymore. The last is the shift toward customisation and fit—the idea of having imaginations brought to life and to have them fit exactly; without paying exorbitant rates for that bespoke tailoring. For the individual with a keen fashion sense and a genuine desire to move away from the waste and uniformity of fast fashion without paying the premium for it that indie brands would invariably demand, the tailor is the perfect crossover.
The return to the tailor is the juxtaposition of three key things for the mindful Indian shopper. The first is the conscious shift away from the homogeneity of fast fashion, the idea of a hundred other people owning exactly the same Zara trench coat or H & M pleated skirt. The second is an actual understanding of the waste behind the fast fashion market, and wanting not to contribute to that anymore. The last is the shift toward customisation and fit—the idea of having imaginations brought to life and to have them fit exactly; without paying exorbitant rates for that bespoke tailoring. For the individual with a keen fashion sense and a genuine desire to move away from the waste and uniformity of fast fashion without paying the premium for it that indie brands would invariably demand, the tailor is the perfect crossover.
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When summarising a passage, focus on the key actions and shifts discussed, and not on generalised statements.
Updated On: Jul 7, 2026
- The mindful Indian shopper is shifting away from convenience and uniformity of clothing, and waste in fashion, to customisation and less exorbitantly priced clothing.
- In the Indian retail market, people believe that expensive branded clothes are wasteful and, therefore, are returning to the neighbourhood tailor.
- The mindful Indian shoppers are returning to the tailor with a genuine desire to wear clothes which are less expensive, fit them well and are yet fashionable.
- All Indian shoppers are opting for customisation and a shift away from homogeneity over expensive clothing brands like Zara and H & M.
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The Correct Option is A
Approach Solution - 1
Approach: A good para-summary captures every load-bearing idea and over-claims nothing. The passage names three drivers of the 'return to the tailor' - escaping uniformity, avoiding fashion waste, and getting custom fit without the indie-brand premium. Pick the option that holds all three and stays accurate.
Step 1 - List the must-haves: (a) moving away from fast-fashion homogeneity, (b) awareness of and rejection of fashion waste, (c) customisation and fit at non-exorbitant prices. A full summary needs all three.
Step 2 - Eliminate Option 2: It reduces the motive to 'expensive branded clothes are wasteful' and the cost angle, dropping the fit/customisation and uniformity points. Incomplete.
Step 3 - Eliminate Option 3: It covers cheaper, well-fitting, fashionable clothes but omits the environmental waste driver, which the passage stresses. Partial.
Step 4 - Eliminate Option 4: It overreaches with 'All Indian shoppers' (the passage speaks of the mindful shopper) and ignores the cost/affordability point. Wrong scope.
Step 5 - Confirm Option 1: 'Shifting away from convenience and uniformity, and waste in fashion, to customisation and less exorbitantly priced clothing' folds in all three drivers with correct scope.
Answer: Option 1.
Step 1 - List the must-haves: (a) moving away from fast-fashion homogeneity, (b) awareness of and rejection of fashion waste, (c) customisation and fit at non-exorbitant prices. A full summary needs all three.
Step 2 - Eliminate Option 2: It reduces the motive to 'expensive branded clothes are wasteful' and the cost angle, dropping the fit/customisation and uniformity points. Incomplete.
Step 3 - Eliminate Option 3: It covers cheaper, well-fitting, fashionable clothes but omits the environmental waste driver, which the passage stresses. Partial.
Step 4 - Eliminate Option 4: It overreaches with 'All Indian shoppers' (the passage speaks of the mindful shopper) and ignores the cost/affordability point. Wrong scope.
Step 5 - Confirm Option 1: 'Shifting away from convenience and uniformity, and waste in fashion, to customisation and less exorbitantly priced clothing' folds in all three drivers with correct scope.
Answer: Option 1.
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Approach Solution -2
The passage discusses the changing mindset of the Indian shoppers towards fashion. Let's break down the key elements of the passage:
- Shift from Homogeneity: The passage highlights that shoppers are moving away from fast fashion where many own identical products, such as Zara or H&M items.
- Environmental Consciousness: Shoppers are becoming aware of the waste generated by the fast fashion industry and do not wish to contribute to it any longer.
- Desire for Customisation and Fit: There is a growing interest in customisation and getting clothes that fit perfectly, without having to pay high prices for bespoke tailoring typically demanded by indie brands.
Given these insights, let's evaluate the provided options:
- Option 1: This option correctly encapsulates the key points from the passage. It identifies the shift away from convenience and uniformity, the awareness of waste, and the preference for customisation and affordable fashion.
- Option 2: This option inaccurately suggests that returning to tailors is driven primarily by the perception of expensive branded clothes being wasteful, which is not the main focus of the passage.
- Option 3: While partially correct, it oversimplifies the reasons for returning to tailors, focusing on cost, fit, and fashion, but misses the environmental aspect and uniformity shift.
- Option 4: This option broadens the scope inaccurately by suggesting all Indian shoppers are making this shift, not just the mindful ones.
Therefore, the option that best summarizes the passage is: The mindful Indian shopper is shifting away from convenience and uniformity of clothing, and waste in fashion, to customisation and less exorbitantly priced clothing.
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