FabIndia

FabIndia is not your annual handloom stall at Numaish, being decidedly more upscale. And the range of clothes, linen and crafts you'll find at the store are not only protected by fixed prices, they're also of the most subdued variety of elegant. Besides, browsing through the entire collection is a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.

Handlooms are the main focus of the store, and these include everything from clothes to bed and kitchen linen and other design accessories. As you enter, you'll be distracted by the home section where reams of cloth, in every possible color, are hung, draped or otherwise displayed to tempt the unsuspecting householder. The best buys in this section include curtains which retail for an average of Rs. 200 per meter, and cushion covers in the most contemporary prints.

A select range of furniture is also scattered across the floor, and some rather charming bookcases have been discovered here. Amid all this homely bliss, you'll come past a small set of stationary items like recycled-paper notebooks and a wooden tray laden with all-natural soaps in divine fragrances like Lavender Basil and Jasmine.

When it comes to clothes, Fab has a sizeable menswear section with a decent range of kurtas, shorts, pajamas, pants, shirts and waistcoats, in sizes to fit all. The area also a shoe rack with Kolhapuris. Although most of the clothes here are cotton, in solid shades or with small, conservative block-print, Fab is also a good place to shop for dressier men's ensembles.

Ah, the women's wear section. This is where things get much more interesting. FabIndia only stocks readymade garments, like salwar kameezes, skirts, tops, short kurtas, and the most adorable children's wear. But first, you must check out the expensive but utterly gorgeous collection of dupattas. The jute silks and kalamkaris in raw silk are especially lovely.

Most of the clothes here are in block-print, kalamkari work or batik-dyed. The wraps and skirts are beautiful, as are the kurtas. There's also a maternity section and a range of frocks and kurtas for children. You'll also find the perfect accessory like a jute bag or a stole to go with your buy.

The store has new stock coming in pretty often, but there are some constant good bets here like the floor and table lamps, the ceramics collection and the rugs, some of which are pretty enough to convert into wall-hangings. And this is perhaps the nicest thing about Fab; it houses some good ideas, but it inspires many more.