India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) (72 page)

022/2649-8646;
www.dhoopcrafts.com
) is a brilliant assemblage of craft products from across India, produced and sourced in conjunction with charitable organizations—everything here is handmade and your patronage helps sustain a traditional skill.

HOMEWARE & BEAUTIFUL OBJECTS

Easily one of our favorite stores in the country,
Good Earth
(
www.goodearthindia.com
) has several branches across India, and even one in Singapore. There are three beautiful outlets in Mumbai: The one across the road from the Marriott in Juhu (R/154 Juhu Tara Rd.;
022/2611-2481
) specializes in fabulous textiles and fabrics—not to mention everything in between, including glassware, candles, and especially popular dinnerware. Look out for coasters, lampshades and gorgeously fun cushion covers by Krsna Mehta and Sangita Jindal (under the “Bombay Project” label)—their offbeat designs cleverly rework classic Mumbai icons and images to create hip reminders of your stay here. You can also pick up copies of Fiona Caulfield’s brilliant
Love Mumbai
guidebook—it’s packed with tips on the best shops in the city. Good Earth’s branch at Raghuvanshi Mill (Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel;
022/2495-1954
) has a huge showroom as well as a fairly decent cafe with some scrumptious salads (but slow service). With less down to earth prices, but specializing in the finest quality,
Ravissant
(New India Bldg., Madame Cama Rd., Colaba;
022/2287-3405
) has a selection of sterling-silver teapots, vases, photo frames, and assorted stylish collectibles that sport clean modern lines and hark back to the Deco period. Yet, among all the restrained minimalism, you’ll also encounter fabulous waist-high silver Ganesh statues—apparently they sell like hotcakes.

Contemporary Arts and Crafts,
in the residential neighborhood of Napean Sea Road (near Kemps Corner;
022/2363-1979;
Mon–Sat 10am–8pm, Sun 10am–7pm), has tasteful and sometimes uncommon gifts from all over India. If you’re shopping in Bandra, make time to visit the very upmarket
Frazer and Haws
store (Landmark Bldg., Pali Naka, Bandra;
022/6675-0200
), which carries eclectic and funky silver objets d’art, including sleek idols of Indian gods and goddesses like Ganesha and Lakshmi.

FASHION & FABRICS

Bombay’s fortunes were built on its cotton mills so you’d be right in assuming this is a great city to shop for fabrics, whether for you to wear or have fashioned into something later—and there are plenty of tailors who’ll whip you up something fabulous in just a few hours. While you’ll be overwhelmed with choice when it comes to global labels, you really should seek out the edgy, memorable wardrobe pieces by local designers.

Having created garments for Hillary Clinton, Demi Moore, and Liza Minnelli, and earned the accolades “Crystal King” and “Czar of Embroidery,” Azeem Khan is one of Mumbai’s best-known designers. To find your very own slice of Indian haute couture, visit
Azeem Khan Couture
in Colaba (1 Usha Sadan Bldg.;
022/2215-1028;
www.azeemkhan.com
).
Ensemble
(Great Western Bldg., 130/132 Colaba Causeway;
022/2284-3227
) is another upmarket boutique, owned by designer Tarun Tahiliani, where you will find the greatest variety of East-meets-West evening wear; besides his own creations, prominent designers to look for here include Rajesh Pratap, Monisha Jaisingh, Tarana Rajpal, Abhishek Gupta, Sunita Shankar, and Sabyasachi. If you’re after an even more glamorous, exclusive experience, visit
Tarun Tahiliani Boutique
(Villar Ville, Ramchandani Marg, Apollo Bunder;
022/2287-0895;
www.taruntahiliani.com
), where you can choose from some of the finest saris, suits and bridal garments you can imagine.