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Shopping in Kutch

Where to buy products created by artisans and stores featured in this story

Kala cotton shirts at Khamir crafts store. Photo: Priyanka Parashar/Mint
Kala cotton shirts at Khamir crafts store. Photo: Priyanka Parashar/Mint

Bandhini: Many shops in the Bhuj main market on Anam Road sell tie-and-dye fabrics and drapes in Gaji silk and chiffons, but for exceptional work visit Zakiya and Adil Khatri (09662393466). Also Jabbar Khatri, who creates ombré Bandhinis in natural dyes and has shown at Unesco exhibitions (09879499891).

Khamir crafts store: This quaint and well-priced store stocks varieties of the indigenous crafts and textiles of Kutch, everything except embroidered products. Among its best offerings are woven Mashru prints in cotton and rayon, and Kala cotton garments and drapes. Khamir is behind the BMCB Social Society, Lakhond-Kukma Crossroads, near Bhuj (02832-271272).

Batik: For specialized work and a large variety of fabrics and saris in contemporary designs and colours and modernistic interpretations of “mania", the characteristic cracks of batik, visit Shakeel Khatri of Rainbow Textiles in Ganghara, Bramhapuri, Mundra (09428896230).

Embroidery

Qasab: It works with more than 1,200 women artisans from 11 communities across 65 villages and offers sophisticated, fine-quality embroidered and appliqué creations. At Jubilee Circle, 21, Nootan Colony, behind Santoshi Mata Temple Road, Vijay Nagar, Bhuj. It also has a tiny outlet in the lobby of the Hotel Prince in Bhuj (09898612211).

Shrujan—Threads of Life: For embroidered garments, saris, shawls and accessories. The flagship store is on the outskirts of Bhuj, behind the GEB Sub-station Bhujodi, Bhuj (02832-240272). Their other store, on the campus of Shrujan Museum, is a better destination if you are looking for distinctive embroidered woollen shawls and stoles. At LLDC, 705, Bhuj-Bhachau Highway, opposite Anchor Factory Ajrakhpur, near Bhuj (02832-229090).

Ajrakh: For a wide-ranging variety of Ajrakh prints in natural or synthetic dyes, go to Ajrakhpur, the land of Ajrakh artisans, a 15-minute drive from Bhuj. Ismail Khatri’s home store stocks stoles, saris, crinkled skirts, dupattas, jackets and kurtas (09925169313). For Aslam’s collections in Gaji silk, chamois satin and Tussar silk, call 07874618615.

Hiralaxmi Memorial Craft Park: Set up in Bhujodi village, near Bhuj, this is the Dilli Haat of Kutch, a green area with crafts stalls in mud and thatch huts. Most local crafts and textiles, lacquer, brass and leather work, décor and mass-produced varieties are available here. Our pick includes woven Kala cotton ombré saris called Bhujodi saris with multicoloured pallus by Bhimji Samji Vankar. Call 09909726512. You can also place orders at khimjisiju51@gmail

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