Antiques, Home Decor & More: Here's Why You Must Visit These 5 Quirky Concept Stores

Since 1995, Sanskriti Lifestyle has been one of the best and most trusted names for antique furnishings in Pune. From a small shop in Lane 6, Koregaon Park to the now gorgeous sprawling property that houses their shop in Lane 7, Sanskriti has come a long way. Their environment-conscious, ethical approach is good for the soul, and their curation and attention to detail are top-notch. In addition to their gorgeous antiquities, there are plenty of Indian textiles, handicrafts, jewellery, shoes, knick-knacks, and more that you can pick up to bring some colour to your life. We love their handcrafted Mojris {INR 600 – 700+/pair}, ceramic ‘Kharbuja’ Knobs {INR 60+}, antique copper and brass ware {starting at INR 800+}, mobile phone slings {INR 200}, hand-painted wooden frames {INR 1100+} and pretty handmade earrings {INR 300+}. #LBBTip: Keep an eye out for their annual Night Market, happening in October! There’ll be a lot of interesting stalls {including food} and plenty of cool stuff to buy.

Quietly confident Bliss started out in 2004 with woodworking, providing garden accessories like trellises, arbours, etc. As their business grew, they started refurbishing antique furniture and selling it as well {starting at INR 3500 for smaller pieces}. The reason we love their shop, is because of their range of indoor and outdoor accessories – namely, woodland creatures. From tiny ceramic bunnies to large owls, they have an adorable range {starting at INR 100} to choose from. Whether you have an outdoor garden, balcony, or patio – these are definitely something any animal lover would want to own. In case you’d like a touch of green but lack a green thumb, they also sell faux plants and flowers that look surprisingly realistic.

With roots that trace back to the Swadeshi movement, The Bombay Store have long celebrated India’s culture and heritage through their curation of goods. Their range of products is diverse: artefacts, books, home decor, wellness products, clothes – both modern and contemporary, from all across India. You can’t walk in here and NOT buy something. They have 2 major stores in Pune – so get shopping! #LBBTip: They’re also selling 100% soluble and eco-friendly Ganeshas, so keep them in mind when preparing for Ganesh Chaturthi.

Art Etc. pride themselves on being an ‘oregionally indian’ handicraft store. Art, Etc. was started in 2011 by Mr. Narendra Sachar and Maya Rao, two docu-filmmakers, after working closely with artisans on a documentary for the Craft Council of India. Moved by the plight of these artisans, they were inspired to shine a light on the dying handicrafts of India. From Kashmir to Kerala, Rajasthan to Assam – everything at Art Etc. is sourced directly from the artisans themselves; i.e. there is no middle man or wholesaler. The focus is on quality and exclusivity – you’ll find stuff here you won’t see in most commercial stores, and it’ll be authentic. Get your hands on handmade paper items {INR 40 – 50+}, ceramics, woodwork, metalwork, home decor, garments, bed linen and more.

Undoubtedly Pune’s original quirky store, Either Or is a veritable treasure trove for cool stuff. For the uninitiated, Either Or was founded in 1999, and stocks a lot of creative indie artisans, and boutique Indian brands. You’ll find shelves full of one-of-a-kind clothing, trinkets, books, bags, shoes, toys, pottery, and what have you. We *love* shopping here, and think you will too!