Where to Shop in Mumbai, India

shopping

Bombay Perfumery

Mumbai, India

Manan Gandi, the son of an essential oils merchant, grew up with the aromas of geranium, patchouli and rose drifting through his childhood home. In 2016, in honour of his father’s ventures, Manan established India’s first perfumery. The eau de parfums are Indian at heart – “Madurai Talkies” pays homage to the cities jasmine blossoms, while “Calicut” features the black pepper notes that engulf India’s ancient spice markets. The Bombay Perfumery scents can all be sampled and purchased at the Bombay Shirt Company in Bandra.

Address

Kamal Vishrantee Kutirbr> 24th Road Bandra 400050

shopping

Fabindia

Mumbai, India

Fabindia has over two hundred outlets across the world – it’s popped up everywhere from Fiji to Nepal – so it’s hardly an under-the-radar tip-off. Still, the brand nails affordable, stylish homeware and that’s a point worth reiterating. You’ll use every last kilo of your luggage allowance for the bed throws and rugs – which look like they’ve been found in a downtown bizarre rather than an air-conditioned outlet.

Address

17 Palm Beach Galleria Shopping Complex Palm Beach Road 400703

shopping

Mangaldas, Kalbadevi

Mumbai, India

Mangalda is a library of textiles. The sellers perch on wooden stools awaiting your custom, eager to recount the stories behind each fabric. You can choose from countless rolls, all with glorious details – hand-woven, spun and printed – ready to be skilfully fashioned into curtains, cushions, skirts and sarongs. Stacks of books, bags of spices and Indian sweets can also be found among the piles of fabrics.

Address

Janjiker Street Lohar Chawl Kalbadevi 400002

shopping

Cherry Fig, Bandra

Mumbai, India

It’s worth furrowing through the racks at Cherry Fig. There’s surplus designer and high-street gems, all at knock-off prices. Cord Levi jackets, Burberry shirts, Gucci socks and Zara skirts can all be found in the mix. Activate bargain-hunting mode and go nuts.

Address

Libra Tower Hill Road Bandra West 400050

shopping

Obataimu, Fort

Mumbai, India

Conceived in Tokyo and born in Mumbai, Obataimu is a confluence of Japanese and Indian design. Noorie, the brands founder, is a native of Mumbai but spent her childhood in Hong Kong. Inspired by Japanese minimalism, she established Obataimu on her return and hired fabric artisans from the streets of Mumbai (taking them out of factories and sweatshops). The result is uber cool, ethical design – you’ll find crisp shirts with Mandarin collars, vintage sunglasses and coffee-table books that no one else will have.

Address

Machinery House Bharucha Marg Kala Ghoda Fort 400001

shopping

Oshiwara Furniture Market

Mumbai, India

Word of advice: keep digging. Oshiwara Furniture Market is a bottomless gold mine. Scour for cool lamps, Bollywood posters and furniture as well as antique teak pieces displayed more purposefully along the main stalls. You’ll find pretty much everything here. The key to conquering the market? Haggle, haggle, haggle.

Address

Jogeshwari Oshiwara Bridge SV Road Jogeshwari West 400047

shopping

Bhuleshwar Market

Mumbai, India

Shopping for wedding jewellery? Us neither, but with a magpie’s eye, we can’t seem to help ourselves. Whether bride-to-be, wedding guest or hopeless romantic, these wholesale wedding jewellery vendors are unpassable thanks to their unbelievably low prices.

Address

Bhuleshwar Road Marine Lines East Panjarpole 400002