A fashion lover's guide to shopping in Mumbai

woman sitting on edge of table next to two portraits

Fashion writer and Soho House Mumbai member Praachi Raniwala opens her little black book of Mumbai’s three key shopping districts

By Praachi Raniwala    Monday 15 April, 2019

The cosmopolitan vibe of Mumbai deftly balances its global mind-set with a proud nod to local culture. And the shopping haunts in the city are no different. Explore the homegrown labels that populate its many by-lanes in these key neighbourhoods below.

But a word to the wise: snag some extra baggage allowance before you hit the shops.

Bandra
Wearing its hipster cred like a badge of honour, Bandra’s leafy lanes are full of understated local stores and luxe Indian designers. Venture beyond Linking Road for insider gems the locals swear by.

Start at Fabindia – its artisanal mix of clothing, bed linen, spices and beauty products is ideal for gifts. Saroj Fabrics and Niharikaa Fabrics (+91 22 2648 5544) on Khar Danda Road are both treasure troves of fabrics, selling everything from printed cottons to handwoven Benarasis. Bargain hunters will be drawn to Hill Road’s street shopping, while fans of luxury brands won’t be disappointed by multi-designer boutiques Atosa (+91 22 2640 1029) and Ensemble. For personalised bejewelled pieces, take a trip to Monisha Jaising.

Don’t miss: The hand-embroidered chinkankari tunics and kaftans at Neemrana. 
a stall of glass lamps
roses and fruit
Lower Parel
Once a collection of industrial mills, today you’ll find restaurants, bars, shops and offices, creating the area’s characteristic bustle, whatever time of day you visit.

Make a beeline for Raghuvanshi Mills, which is populated with some of the city’s best homeware stores, including Oma, Address Home (+91 22 4004 0474) and Pinakin. That box ticked, prepare to lose hours to Good Earth a sustainable luxury design brand steeped in Indian heritage.

Elsewhere, in Palladium Mall, stop by shops such as Anita Dongre, Masaba, Ritu Kumar and AM:PM, which are all go-tos for your fashion fix. Stock up on traditional handcrafted juttis for yourself and friends back home at Fizzy Goblet

Don’t miss: Whether you’re a beauty connoisseur or not, making pit stop at organic Ayurvedic brand Forest Essentials is non-negotiable. 
rack of tshirts
racks of colourful clothes in a shop
Kala Ghoda and Colaba 
Across the city from Soho House Mumbai, these two neighbouring downtown areas are as historic as they are cool.

Brush up your bargaining skills to buy local footwear and home trinkets at the street shops on Colaba Causeway. Curio Cottage, Aquamarine and The Gem Palace at Le Mill have jewellery to suit all tastes, while Raw Mango is a must for contemporary handwoven saris and fabrics. At the higher end of the shopping spectrum, Sabyasachi (+91 22 2204 4774) and Gaurav Gupta warrant a visit simply for their nuanced design aesthetic. Afterwards, head to Filter (+91 22 2288 7070) for niche objets d’art, Chumbak for homeware and Phillips for antiques.

Don’t miss: Hop over to Chor Bazaar – ‘thieves market’ – for classic Bollywood posters and antique pieces, or brave the crowds to nd a bargain at Crawford wholesale market.  


Images from top: Praachi (Ashish Shah), Crawford Market (Nachiket Primpikar), Chor Bazaar 
(Nachiket Primpikar), Raw Mango (Nachiket Primpikar) and (Chloe Winstanley)
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