My A-Z of Mumbai Shopping

After my A-Z guides to Mumbai Places and Food, I give you the BombayJules A-Z Guide to Mumbai Shopping. 

Note:
1) Please follow the links for location information and further details
2) Do bear in mind that these are my personal choices (with the exception of Nature's Basket)
3) Regular readers will know that I have a particular passion for antiques and interiors, so apologies for the bias!
4) These outlets mostly highlight products originating in India

A
One of the most hidden antiques stores in Mumbai is Anemos in Raghuvanshi Mills (near the big Good Earth shop).  Anemos is actually a store retailing high quality ceiling fans, but if you ask the staff in there nicely, they will take you up to a first floor showroom filled with a wonderful array of teak furniture and Indian antiquities sourced from all over India.

Anokhi is my preferred choice for ethnic clothes shopping - a store selling Jaipur hand block-printed quilts, tablecloths, women's, men's and children's clothes.  Extra large sizes are available and the prices are excellent! I recently bought a top for my mum for 1,100 Rs (£11/$16) which I later saw being retailed in a UK branch of 'East' for £59! (Rs 5,900/$90). Great place to stock up on non-tacky Indian themed presents to take back home. Branches in Chowpatty and Waterfield Road, Bandra.

Gorgeous printed dresses at Anokhi (photo: sodelhi.com)

For costume jewellery lovers, there is Amrapali - a favourite of Bollywood stars and a certain expat I know - MaximumCityMadam. Interesting designs in hammered gold is a speciality, punctuated with semi precious stones. Also find pretty special silver pieces - which is unusual for a gold-loving city! Branches in Juhu and T2 at Mumbai Airport.

B
A big hit with the wealthy set (and expats) is the Big Door in Bandra.  Here you will find a glorious selection of jewellery handcrafted in Jaipur as well as Rajasthani artefacts and furniture - all housed in a huge, beautifully laid out showroom on two floors.  You can't miss the store - the entrance is the biggest pair of green doors you have ever seen in your life.

More eclectic and worldly is Bungalow 8 in Colaba - a lifestyle store that also sells women's clothing and accessories.  I like the slightly industrial feel to some of the furnishings on offer.

C
So many Cs, so little time! All my favourites are here.  First off is Camelot - a wonderful antiques store housed in a gorgeous old villa in Kemps Corner.  Good quality furniture and realistic prices means there is always something new to view.  Everything is in a finished state so can be delivered immediately (unlike most of the antiques haunts in Mumbai). Keep an eye out for the sales when there is a clear out of stock with up to 30% off.

Contemporary Arts & Crafts (CAC) in Fort is going to be your most original bet for interesting, quality gifts and Indian crafted items for your home.  Colourful quilts, lacquered kitchenware, wooden and brass objet, stationery, jewellery, scarves, small items of furniture, lamps and paintings are all here. You need a good 30 minutes to browse!

I have been to Chimanlals so many times that I must surely own shares in that company by now. Every time I open a cupboard in my apartment, something from Chimanlals falls out!  Heavenly handmade stationery is cheap and abundant at this store in Fort.  It's a bit old fashioned but that's part of the charm. You can fill a whole bag with gorgeous cards, gift tags, notebooks, colourful wrapping paper and writing paper for less than an English tenner.  And I love the desk calendars they bring out every year for a mere 125 Rs.

D
I have to mention Deepaks - the wine shop on Pali Market in Bandra.  It's kept us in Sula wine, Kingfisher lager and even Shepherd Neame ales for the last two years. I wouldn't go so far as to say you get service with a smile but every time we have called up for even just one bottle, it's been delivered to us within a few minutes (and with a complimentary packet of spicy snacks!)  Very efficient!

For the home, Dhoop is a pretty decent home accessories shop in Khar retailing lovely candles, floor lamps and other handcrafted items from all over India. Prices are very reasonable.

E
Blink and you'd miss Eastern Treasure which is located on Hill Road in a building above Playclan and Lakme Salon.  In my view, this is the perfect store in which to find furniture and accessories for the bachelor pad. Designs are distinctly with a British Gentlemen's Club feel and I love the 1930s style aviator and trunk desks and leather sofas. There is no other such shop catering to blokes in Mumbai.

Blokey aviator desk at Eastern Treasure (see the same one on Two and a Half Men!)

F

My favourite contemporary home accessories store in Mumbai is Freedom Tree (branches in Bandra and Lower Parel). Enter the shop and you will be faced with an abundance of colourful quirky textiles, furniture, kitchen goods and smiling staff.  I love the cheery Scandi-Japanese inspired prints and the sense of fun. Products are also available to order online. 

G

Good Earth is an interior shopper's paradise and the second home to most expats residing in Mumbai. The design aesthetic is second to none but the prices are to match.  My favourite department is the cushion/pillow section (with colourful Indian motifs such as Maharaja figures, tigers and elephants) followed by bedspreads which can cost upwards of Rs 10,000 (£100/$150). But there is no arguing that the collections are stunning and completely luxurious.  The proprietor of this chain has sourced the best that India has to offer as well as producing in-house designs.  Find everything your home could possible need including western style furniture, lamps, bathroom accessories, stuff for children's rooms/nurseries, mirrors and even clothing.

The Mysore Collection (Photo www.goodearth.in)

H

If you're searching for a western-style supermarket then Hypercity should fulfil your needs.  It's just a shame it is so far from Bandra or South Mumbai.  I was quite amazed when I went grocery shopping there - because I found proper tills with moving conveyor belts! The selection of fresh fruit and veg is great - all individually packaged like you would find back home. There is also a Waitrose section selling tinned and bottled goods, pasta and cereals etc (such joy!) and you can buy western cheese, hams, foreign wines etc. 

Waitrose at Hypercity

I

For my only purely online entrant, I refer you to India Circus.  India Circus is like a more fun, cheaper and younger version of Good Earth.  And there is probably good reason for that as it is one of Good Earth's main designers - Krsna Mehta - who struck out alone to set up the concept. In his own words ..."with an all-Indian palette, the India Circus vision juxtaposes India's decadent royal past with her modern urban-scape and even local handicrafts...to offer a refreshingly distinct and vibrant aesthetic"...ooh, stick that in your pipe and smoke it!  Again, I am attracted to the cushion covers, but you will find Krsna's colourful prints on everything from bags to Ipad covers to bins and coasters. Love it!

J

Joseph's - in my mind, is the best butchers (cold storage) in Mumbai (or perhaps just Bandra, as I don't know much about fresh meat retail in the rest of the city).  For two years, I have been recommending this place to every expat who has western expectations of plump chicken breasts, American style steak and Yorkshire Pork roasts.  If you don't mind a lecture on God from the owner Anil if he so happens to be there, it's quite a fun experience getting your weekly meat purchases from Joseph's.  And it always blows my mind just how many people he employs! (Don't forget to bring your own plastic bag).

K

My favourite bookshop in all of Mumbai is the colonial styled Kitab Khana down in Fort.  With its wooden balustrades and book-shelving, a marvellous collection of coffee table books and its own cafe, an hour's browse here is wonderful.  You will also find row upon row of British classics as well as contemporary Indian writers. Very tasteful selections!

Everyone has heard of Anokhi. But not everyone has heard of Kilol - a clothing and textiles shop on Turner Road in Bandra that sells traditional hand block-printed items from Jaipur.  The design aesthetic is not quite as cool as Anokhi - but I still enjoy shopping for colourful kurtas, dupattas and cushion covers there. Plenty of gift inspiration too.

L

Need a spare part for an old computer?  Phone not working? Want to get into CB radio-ing?  Then you need to visit Lamington Road (no link - find it near Grant Road station in South Mumbai).  Known as the "IT hub of Mumbai" (a bit like Tottenham Court Road in London but not), Lamington Road is a wholesale/retail electronics market.  Find computer goods (new and second-hand), electronics, TVs and wireless equipment at rates much lower than MRP.  Find old/outdated electronic parts such as transistors, cables, tuners and capacitors.  A geek's paradise!

Le Mill is an upmarket furniture store housed in a huge old mill in Wadi Bunder (there is also a 'concept store' in Breach Candy).  You won't find Indian handicrafts here but if you are looking for Danish designer furniture, rugs, metal lamps and accessories, then this is the place for you.  It is owned by glamorous types and caters to glamorous types.  Feedback from expats is generally that it's a bit pretentious and very over-priced.  We bought our sofa from there which promptly fell apart. Make of that what you will.

M

Magnolia Home Store was one of the first furniture shops I reviewed.  It was great then and it's still great now.  Wooden beds, chairs, stools and sideboards made from upcycled teak; bedcovers; handmade candleholders; seating recovered with Indian textiles.  The brainchild of Maulika Gandhi, I liked the fact that this was a 'proper' spacious interiors store with room-sets so you an imagine how things will look.  

N

I actually wracked my brain for 'N' so that I wouldn't have to mention Nature's Basket, but couldn't come up with anything else - so I therefore have no choice but to write/complain about it.  Godrej's Nature's Basket is my nemesis (and a cause for hatred amongst most other expats I have spoken to!)  It is an upscale grocery store with western pretensions but without western service or management style. Yes, you can find a whole host of expat foods here including Italian olive oils, pastas, Cheddar Cheese, bacon, hummus, fancy breads and Lurpak butter.  But what you have to go through to obtain these items beggars belief.  The veg is usually past its sell-by-date; the people on the meat counter are usually standing around chatting whilst ignoring you; and the till operators lack any common sense whatsoever (once you get to the till that is...the queues are usually long due to the management's inability to keep all tills open at all times). And let us not forget the prices.....say no more.

O

Amazingly for me, I did not mention Chor Bazaar under C ('so many Cs, so little time') so I have a duty to mention Oshiwara furniture market in Jogeshwari.  An antique hunter's paradise where all the shopkeepers are called Khan. Find genuine and repro Art Deco desks, rosewood chairs, granite pillars, wooden monkeys and everything in between.  Please remember to spray yourself with mosquito spray and take a fan...it gets hot in those narrow little warehouses!

P

Lots under P too!  First off is Playclan on Hill Road, Bandra - a fun little shop selling pop-art-with-an-Indian-motif products such as coasters, T-Shirts, messenger bags, art and clocks. As the name suggests, it's playful, it's young, it's cool.  Shop online here.

Pure Living is based in Phoenix Market City (Kurla) and is an interiors shop selling contemporary furniture and home accessories.  It's mid-market and inoffensive and we found it very useful for buying plain white crockery and decent cutlery, casual bedspreads and towels in plain colours and shimmering glass candle-holders. You can pick up straightforward sofas, coffee tables, table-lamps and mirrors for reasonable prices. Recommended for starter homes/expat movers.

If you are looking to deck out a kid's, teenager's or even adult's party with balloons and novelties -  or you are trying to pin down a Spiderman fancy dress outfit, then you will need Party Hunterz (Ambedkar Road, Bandra and another branch in Goregaon).  It's the go-to place for moms who want to hold the best party on the block for their offspring, as well as babyshower, stag/hen and halloween party accessories. Shop online here

New entrant is Pondicherry - a charming south Mumbai store stocking antiques and furniture made from re-purposed architectural salvage, as well as the odd contemporary piece.  Some well priced home accessories are also thrown into the mix.  Follow the link for my blog.  The owners Lina and Rahul are utterly charming.

Q

No shops beginning with Q that I know of - but Quikr is (quote) "a city based free classifieds website that helps people buy, sell, rent, find in categories like furniture, mobile phones, cars & bikes, services, pets, real estate, jobs, education entertainment and matrimonial. You can post free ads and reply to ads on Quikr in the city you live in. Quikr websites allow you to post free ads, find what you are looking for and address your regular needs by connecting people in a faster, simpler and easier way".

R

I love Ritu Kumar for its divine combination of western-ethnic wear (the 'Label' label).  I just wish she produced bigger sizes!  Ritu Kumar ('Ritu Kumar' label) also makes purely Indian wear that is soooo beautiful. For any foreigner looking for embroidered anarkhalis, salwar kameez and saris for a wedding, pop along to a branch (all over the city). Not cheap though.

No antiques lover can visit Mumbai without visiting the Raj Company in Mahalaxmi,  On the ground floor you will find a huge, if somewhat dusty room with genuine, old antiques ready to be finished to your specification.  On the upper floors are room upon room of cleverly reproduced colonial antique furniture - most of which will get shipped all over the world.  All top notch stuff that you won't find in Chor Bazaar!

S

'The Shop' on Ambedkar Road (opp. Pali Village Cafe) is a treasure trove of reasonably priced Indian handcrafted textiles, clothing and pottery. I particularly like the block printed and cutwork tablecloths and bedspreads - and the plates, bowls and jugs from Auroville.  The clothes, in brightly coloured cotton fabrics are modern and airy - great for hot weather.  There is also a cute kids room - perfect for presents for your tots.

Tablecloths from 'The Shop' (Photo from www.theshopindia.com)

Staying in Bandra/Khar (sorry, but that's where a lot of the cool shops are!) is interiors store Sanctum on 19th Road. Here you will find wooden furniture that has been given the shabby-chic treatment (Indian style), industrial style lamps, home accessories, vintage embroidered bags and lots of other interesting bits and pieces. 

Vintage bag from Sanctum (photo courtesy of Sanctum)

Again in Bandra, Something Special at 63 Hill Road (no link) is great for ribbons, glitter pens, novelties, Christmas decorations, crafting materials and lots and lots of knick-knacks. Find stuff to keep your kids amused here.

T

Chor Bazaar is full of same-y looking stalls with repro and dusty, decrepit old furniture that has seen better days. Taherally's however, makes a bit more effort with its shopfront and inside you will find restored furniture, glass lamps in tutti-frutti colours, art deco objet, bone and glass drawer handles and plenty of other items to keep you enthralled for an hour. They export and they even have a website! Find them at 28 Mutton Street, Chor Bazaar.

Colourful ceiling lights from Taherally's.

Tarun Tahiliani is one of India's most celebrated clothes designers.  His 'India Modern' couture collections are way out of my league but if you are rich and skinny, you will do justice to his creations. Tarun's luxury Indian crafted clothing is infused with European sensibilities.  Aaaah to dream.....

U

This one is a bit of a cheat - but particularly for British expats - it is possible to buy your Underwear at the 35,000 sq ft Marks & Spencers on Hill Road, Bandra!  Here, you can also find toiletries (including nice handwash and moisturising sets for your guest bathroom), and women's, men's and kid's clothing (including good quality, plain white babygros which can be hard to find).

V

I didn't mention the electrical retailer Croma under 'C' because I loathe the store - particularly because of the poor service and lack of knowledge about products.  I prefer Vijay Sales (based in Mumbai and branches all over) where you can pick up all electronic requirements for your home such as washing machines, fridges, TVs, tablets, phones etc etc.  

W

Waterfield Road is a shopper's paradise and very happening road in Bandra -  particularly if you are looking for clothes and restaurants. A refined diversion from Linking Road, find branches of Anokhi, Reiss, hundreds of independent boutiques, Saks Hair & Beauty Salon and Paws 'n' Furs pet shop for pampered pooches.

X & Y

Nothing found worth recommending except Yoga House in Bandra for awesome fresh salads and smoothies (if I was writing a restaurant guide ;-)

Z

And finally we come to the end.  Zaveri Bazaar in Bhuleshwar, South Mumbai is an area of crowded narrow lanes home to hundreds of jewellery shops selling gold and gems (and lots of diamonds!).  It is said that 65% of all gold dealing/trading originates from this market. Giving his name to the market is Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri - possibly the biggest jewellery retailer in India - although you will find that there are hundreds of dealers in the country with the same surname.  Zaveri is actually Gujarati for 'jeweller'.  No link but full address is: Mumbadevi Commercial Centre, 69/75 Zaveri Bazaar, Kika St, Gulal Wadi, Bhuleshwar, Mumbai.  Go just for the experience.

Zaveri Bazaar (photo: travel.cnn.com)

Photos are my own unless otherwise stated.

Ayesha Kumar - Bespoke Clothes Designer & Dressmaker

In the two years that I have lived in Bombay, I have not had the opportunity to have clothes made to my own design and fit.  This is kind of crazy as tailors and dressmakers line every avenue of the city - and it is pretty much the norm for upper and middle-class Indian women to have their clothes stitched. But it is perhaps for this reason - because there are so many to choose from, and probably all of differing standards - that I never got on with it.  It was too daunting. What I really needed was a recommendation.  Which is finally what I have! 

I heard about Ayesha Kumar a while ago through a friend of a friend.  I had been meaning to visit her shop in Colaba for several months but never seemed to get around to it.  But last week - and requiring a dress to be made for a charity event, I finally got to meet the lovely Ayesha Kumar.

Ayesha Kumar - will help you with all your clothing requirements

Tucked away in a quiet enclave off busy Colaba Causeway, is the AY Store - a place where Ayesha showcases her designs and consults with clients.  The racks are full of beautifully embroidered tunics, shirts and dresses as well as plainer, more casual items. And although she makes traditional Indian clothing (including wedding gowns) - a lot of the designs are Western with an Indian influence. 

Mumbai born and bred, Ayesha tells me that years ago, she started making her own clothes at home after never being able to find what she wanted.  Everything seemed so mundane to her and she wanted to be sure that when she went out - that she was not wearing the same thing as anyone else.   In 2009, Ayesha translated her talent into a formal business, by creating a shopfront in Colaba.  Designing everything herself and shopping for fabrics personally, she utilises three skilled tailors to produce her work.  Of course, she collaborates with clients to produce exactly what they want and very usefully (and perhaps unusually) - she specialises in designs for the fuller figure. (Phew for me!).  I have found that being a larger size myself, (or merely being of a Western stature that tends to be larger than the average Indian size), it can be difficult to find decent clothing in this city.  So far, I have been reliant on Anita Dongre and Global Desi.  It would have been much better for me if I had discovered Ayesha earlier on!

Ayesha also explains to me that she works well with clients who have little time to take care of their wardrobes, or those who need help with styling. She basically acts as a confidence booster to such women by helping them to look good in the right fabrics and the right colours. Yay for Ayesha!

As I glance at the rows of samples on the racks, I come to realise that the prices are very reasonable for such bespoke work.  A floaty top starts at 2,500 Rs and more detailed, embroidered pieces start at 4,500 Rs. (£25/£45 or $35/$55 respectively).  I take a close look at some of the embroidery work and I am impressed. Even for a westerner who prefers their clothes to be unembellished, I am being attracted to the gold and silver threads and beads like a magpie. 

Timing is not a problem - it generally takes 15 days to get a plain dress made but if you have an urgent situation, Ayesha can probably help you out in seven days.  Even if the item requires embroidery.  

Although Ayesha specialises in larger sizes, I can see that she must have quite an eclectic clientele. On the racks are gorgeous prom-style floaty evening dresses; brightly coloured, shorter tunics to be worn over churidar for the younger set; elegant linen dresses for the stylish larger women; kurtas with fine detailing around the pockets and necklines; and beach cover-ups in gossamer fabrics to slip on over swimsuits. Really, there is something for everyone, and if there isn't - Ayesha can design and make it for you! (By the way, an evening gown will cost 12,000-16,000 Rs depending on the level of detail and embroidery, and Ayesha can also quote for Indian wedding attire). 

The store is well worth a visit for a private consultation, but you can also work over the email with Ayesha.  I am currently working with her to design an embroidered evening dress in black georgette and lace....watch this space!

Some pictures of AY Store, Ayesha's showcase:

Inside the showroom you will find some examples of Ayesha's designs

Clothes in many different fabrics, colours and designs

I really like this loose linen top with embroidered flowers

This gown is to do die for - - detail of the pleating below.

I also adore this dress - the gold brocaded fabric is detailed below. A good design for covering tummies!

This linen shirt is a personal favourite of mine - I love the embroidery around
the collar and cuffs and the unusual pockets.

This embroidery/braiding is beautiful.  The top (below) would be perfect as a beach cover up or even with jeans or white pants.

Appealing to a younger audience is this brocaded pink kurta - lovely pin-tuck detail below.
This top would be perfect with pink churidar leggings.

Prices are reasonable - the linen top above with the black embroidery and unusual pockets is priced at 4,500 Rs (£45/$60)

Ayesha sent me a picture of this stunning dress she made for an expat client - the embroidery
on the bodice is stunning.

I am working with Ayesha on a black version of this dress - perhaps with some embroidery.
So excited!

Have this elegant gown made in any colour with your choice of detailing around the neckline.

Ayesha is happy to come to your home for an initial consultation and measurement taking!

Ayesha Kumar

@ AY Store 

Apna Ghar Building

Ground Floor

Shop No 1.

Colaba

Tel: 9819739308

Email: aythisandthat@gmail.com

What not to wear in India

Just because I wear the odd kurta and churidar does not mean I’ve gone all ‘effnic’.  It means that I wear clothing that is sensible for the climate, that is easy and comfortable to move around in, and even better; it is cheap and easily updated/replaceable.  For someone such as myself that sometimes works in an NGO environment, it means that I also feel culturally sensitive if I have to visit one of our communities.

And surely, who can resist the variety of colours, fabrics, designs and combinations that makes Indian style clothing a joy to wear?  For someone who only used to wear black, I now love experimenting with looks - by mixing up my colourful churidar/kurta or salwar kameez tops and bottoms.  It’s fun!  Some of the embroidery and workmanship to be found on Indian clothing is to die for - although you may have to be careful how you wash it.  And I love the array of Indian designers now appearing on the worldwide platform, who create ranges with western influences.

WRONG!! And have a bath young lady!!

I have entitled my post ‘What not to Wear’ because I do want to highlight what I consider unacceptable ethnic apparel in India.  You know what I am talking about – you see it mostly on Goan beaches and on the touristy streets of Colaba.  The  ‘Look’ - which consists of elephant print balloon pants (for both women and men), saggy vest tops and dreadlocked hair.  Ugh, what would Audrey Hepburn have said about it all? (I am a devotee of elegant 50s fashions when I am not wearing kurtas and leggings!).   Even as a university student, it never once occurred to me to look like I hadn’t washed for two weeks – and when I did go to Goa as a 20 something year old, I stuck to my normal shorts and t-shirt.  I’m sorry but I just don’t get why you have to look like a hippy if you visit India – after all, do you see any locals walking around dressed like that?

So now we have got that out of the way, I would like to recommend to you some of my favourite clothes shops in Mumbai.  These shops sell clothes that are mostly for everyday wear and they are all very reasonably priced by western standards.  The sizing is ‘good’ in most of these shops -  as I am no longer a UK size 12 myself, I am used to shop assistants coming up to me and saying “yes mam, we have that in wery wery big size”.  Yeah great, thanks a lot.

Anokhi - Western styles
with ethnic prints

First off is Anokhi - which I have mentioned on my blog before when discussing home accessories.  In fact, Anokhi also makes a line of clothing for ‘East’ – a women’s retailer in the UK.  The designs are both ethnic and western shaped, using hand-blocked fabrics created at their headquarters in Amber.   The longer dresses can be worn over leggings or on their own.  I have recently bought an ankle length kaftan shaped dress but with fitted sleeves, which is great for wafting about in at dinner parties. It cost about 2,900 Rs, but I saw the very same dress at a branch of East in the UK for £125!!  Anokhi also makes shorter kaftans which are perfect for wearing over swimwear on your hols and a nice array of scarves (dupattas) for placing loosely over their crisp white cotton tops.  I find that the clothes in Anokhi are wearable wherever you are – both in India and abroad.

Next on my list in Anita Dongre.  This is a retail group that also encompasses AND and Global Desi - with Global Desi being the most ethnic and affordable line, AND being mid range, western collection (see pictures below). Anita Dongre’s label itself, is a mixture of high-end Indian formal wear and clothing with an ethnic/western bent.  Within the Anita Dongre range is ‘Grass Routes’ which I love – beautifully made, some of it is plain with the odd embellishment - but totally wearable in most daytime situations.  She also has a slightly more expensive line called ‘Inter-Pret’ which does well for more formal events.  I bought a beautiful navy blue jersey dress with chiffon sleeves and beading around the neck and wrists for about 4,900 Rs, which I wore to the Bourbon Street Bash. And I have bought absolutely loads of clothes from Global Desi.  Admittedly these are a lot more ethnic – with bright colours, Indian prints and Indian shapes such as kurtas and salwar kameez.  But the tops are great value – usually no more than 1,600 Rs (£20) and the leggings to co-ordinate with your tops are usually only around 650 Rs (£7). I haven’t had to throw anything away that I’ve bought from this line in the last year – it’s all well made.

Ritu Kumar - always elegant

One of my absolute favourite designers in Mumbai is Ritu Kumar.  I love the beautiful structured shapes of some of her 50s style dresses. All made using beautiful but individual Indian fabrics and colours.  Her output is a bit more unusual than most other designers and you will always find something unique for your parties, day and beach wear. When my friend Helen came over from the UK to run the Mumbai Marathon, she went a little crazy in the Ritu Kumar sale – which was especially good value - and bought everything she could for her summer holidays.  Dresses for a couple of thousand rupees or less and tops for under 1,000 Rs. Unfortunately, the sizes do come up a bit small and I can barely fit into the largest size available.  But as soon as I go on that diet (and end it), Ritu Kumar will be my first port of call!

Biba - colourful and traditional

Biba – a brand that was famous in the 70s and now produces western clothes for UK branches – is completely different in this country.  It makes Indian clothing in typical shapes – kurtas, salwar kameez, anarkalis etc.  However, everything is made in stunning bright printed fabrics with funky designs.  If you ever want something a bit different – perhaps you are going to an Indian wedding or event, then this is a good place to start looking.  It also does a range for youngsters.  It’s all very well priced and well made.

Finally – and another place where I’ve bought some great stuff is Bandej.  Their main shop is actually

in Ahmedabad – which I discovered on a trip there and where I went a little wild buying up flowing linen tops and an anarkhali for a wedding.  The Mumbai outlet is in the shopping centre at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Santacruz.  It doesn’t carry as much stock but they still have a small array of colourful designs with western touches.  In particular are the dresses that are made of a knitted cotton material – quite heavy – that would do in an English winter.  Bandej is also a good place to find clothing for that special Indian occasion. Their embellished, ankle length anarkhalis are stunning.

With the exception of Bandej, all retailers listed have multiple branches all over the city.  Please follow the links to their websites in order to find your nearest shop.

Do let me know in the comments section if you have any favourite Indian clothes shops or designers - I will be doing a Part II to this post some day!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Clothes from Anita Dongre group of retailers:

Anita Dongre - gorgeous georgette dress
with flowing sleeves

AND - top that goes great over jeans

Global Desi - crisp white cotton kurta
- works well over jeans or churidar/leggings