Shopping in Mumbai (Bombay)
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Fabindia
Founded as a means to get traditional fabric artisans’ wares to market, Fabindia has all the vibrant colours of the country in its cotton and silk fashions, materials and homewares, all in a modern-meets-traditional Indian shop. The Santa Cruz outpost is also good.
reviewed
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Shrujan
Selling the intricate embroidery work of women in 114 villages in Kutch, Gujarat, the nonprofit Shrujan aims to help women earn a livelihood while preserving the spectacular embroidery traditions of the area. The sophisticated clothing, wall hangings and purses make great gifts.
reviewed
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Chor Bazaar
If you're after Raj-era bric-a-brac, head to Chor Bazaar; the main area of activity is Mutton St, where you'll find a row of shops specialising in antiques (many ingenious reproductions, so beware) and miscellaneous junk.
reviewed
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Crawford Market
Also known as Mahatma Jyobita Phule, Crawford Market is the largest municipal market in Mumbai. From the outside it looks more like a medieval fortress than a place to buy household goods.
reviewed
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Fashion Street Market
Snap up a bargain backpacking wardrobe at Fashion Street Market, the cheap stalls lining MG Rd between Cross and Azad maidans (fields.) Hone your bargaining skills.
reviewed
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Bhuleshwar Market
You can buy just about anything in the dense bazaars north of the Fort. The main areas are Crawford Market (fruit and veg), Mangaldas Market (silk and cloth), Zaveri Bazaar (jewellery), Bhuleshwar Market (fruit and veg) and Chor Bazaar (antiques and furniture), where Dhabu St is worth a peek for leather goods, and Mutton St specialises in antiques, reproductions and junk.
reviewed
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Phillips
The 150-year-old Phillips has nizam-era royal silver, wooden ceremonial masks, Victorian glass and various other gorgeous things that you never knew you wanted. It also has high-quality reproductions of old photos, maps and paintings, and a warehouse of big antiques.
reviewed
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Mangaldas Market
Mangaldas Market, traditionally home to traders from Gujarat, is a great place to browse for Indian textiles and traditional clothes, such as duppatas (the long scarfs atop the salwar kameez.)
reviewed
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Kashmir Government Arts Emporium
The Kashmir Government Arts Emporium, as you might expect from the name, sells craft and artworks produced in the northwestern region of Kashmir, scene of strife between the Indian and Pakistani militaries.
reviewed
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Soma
Soma has home-furnishings and clothing made from hand-block-printed materials at surprisingly reasonable prices, especially considering one bed-spread can be hand-stamped up to 14,000 times!
reviewed
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Khubsons Narisons
Khubsons Narisons sells famous Tantra T-shirts sporting funky original sketches, designs and witty slogans. A number of nearby market stalls sell clothing remarkably similar to Khubsons'.
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Uttar Pradesh Handicrafts Emporium
Outlets selling regional artefacts are maintained by several state governments in Mumbai. The Uttar Pradesh Handicrafts Emporium specialises in goods from the northern Indian state.
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Khadi & Village Industries Emporium
All dusty and old school, Khadi Bhavan is 1940s time-warp with ready-made traditional Indian clothing, material, shoes and handicrafts that are so old they’re new again.
reviewed
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LM Furtado & Co
The best place in Mumbai for musical instruments – sitars, tablas, accordions and local and imported guitars. It also has a branch on Lokmanya Tilak Rd.
reviewed
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Rhythm House
For nonpirated CDs and DVDs, visit, our fave, Rhythm House, which also sells tickets to concerts, plays and festivals.
reviewed
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Anokhi
Gets the East–West balance just right, with men’s and women’s clothes and bedding in block-printed silk and cotton.
reviewed
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Cotton Cottage
Stock up on simple cotton kurtas and various pants – salwars, churidars, patiala – for the road.
reviewed
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Mini Market
Sells original vintage Bollywood posters and other movie ephemera as well as odd and interesting trinkets.
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Cottonworld Corp
Small chain selling stylish Indian–Western-hybrid goods. Entrance is behind the State Bank of India.
reviewed
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Courtyard
A collection of couture boutiques. Good if you’re interested in India’s fashion design scene.
reviewed
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Bombay Paperie
Sells handmade, cotton-based paper crafted into charming cards, sculptures and lampshades.
reviewed
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Bombay Store
A classy selection of rugs, clothing, teas, stationery, aromatherapy and brass sculptures.
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Inshaallah Mashaallah
Local oils and perfumes in antediluvian bottles; the rose is popular (Rs250 for 12ml).
reviewed
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Colaba Market
Colaba Market is lined with jewellery shops and fruit-and-veg stalls.
reviewed
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Portasia
Entrance is down a little alley; look for the ‘cybercafe’ sign hanging from a tree.
reviewed