Hit Up These 14 Places For The Lightest Handloom Clothes This Summer

Dakshinapan’s Aranya is a store that promises to take care of your Poila Boishakh needs with their new summer collection. While white lemon yellow and greys rule their collection, you can pick anything — from dresses to skirts, maxi shirts, handloom dhotis and pretty tops. Do check out their range of anti-fit wear, the khadi jamdani saris and kids’ quirky print spaghetti tops. Men’s mandarin-collared kurtas and the colourful, unstitched khadi dhotis are just perfect to rock the scene this new year.

When summer is in the house can Fab India be left behind? Nope, because their stores are packing some beautiful cotton tunics, tops, kurtis, jackets, shirts and more. Their summer collection is built purely around cotton and mostly with floral and paisley prints in pastel shades. We loved their cotton bush shirts and long linen kurtas, perfect for the summer look.

Love bright and light printed cottons? This unassuming store on Rashbehari Avenue {close to the Sony Centre} is a hidden gem. Started in 1969, and still run by the two sisters who launched it {now in their 70s}, the shop stocks 70s-style handblock printed saris in bright summery hues. They also do hand batiks and embroidered saris, you can in fact get your own sari and have it customised with embroidery and prints to suit your style.

If Parama’s kitschy blouses have been making you drool, then her new summer collection of an entire wardrobe range is sure to make you swoon. Her white Kerala cotton Kasavu saris with summer flower motifs like Krishnachura adding the dramatic twist has us reaching for our wallets. Men’s kantha border khadi dhotis and kids’ cotton dresses with animal appliques are the other must check outs of her collection. 

A store given to only saris, Balaram Saha is a treasure chest with an incredible stock. They have been around for ages, and are somewhat of a legend. This summer they are going high on handloom silks like matka and khadi. Besides this, they have an exclusive summer collection of muslin and kantha to woo you. With geometric and sylvan prints ruling the collection mostly, the saris are definitely meant to set your summer look to perfection.

Bengalis wear their love for handloom and subtle kitsch on their sleeves, and gamchha clothes are like the height of such perfect combination. City girl Trie Paul’s gamchha-inspired clothes have taken the country by wonder, and her new summer collection is adding more oomph to the line. The gamchha applique Afghan pants and shirts in green, red and purple are like perfect compliments to summer days. New on the line is, of course, the applique sarees and the light jackets for men. 

This store tucked away in a lane near Kimbadanti and Indthalia {and opposite Aakar Prakar galllery} is a hidden gem. From batik and shibori silks, jamdanis and contemporary cottons to Mokhlino linen, they have a huge range of saris. They also stock kurtas and shirts for men and kids in some of the best handloom cottons from Assam, Rajasthan and Bengal. They’ve also got an amazing range of stoles and bags, all handcrafted and sourced from the Northeast and the craft hubs of Western India. And the prices are far more affordable than most other places.

Another great place to indulge your love for saris is, definitely, Meera Basu Sarees. This store in Lake Road has new stock coming in every few weeks. This summer too they have fresh designs and stock to help you dazzle. Their word for the new summer collection is kora silk, khadi jamdani and light raw silk saris. You can also pick up cotton dress materials. 

South Kolkata’s apparel and clothing pilgrimage, Kanishka, has a new breezy summer collection that captures summer vibes like no one else. Known for their handmade blockprint attires, this collection too boasts of unique designs. Fleshed mostly out of cotton and handloom materials, the collection features saris, shirts and kurtas {of different lengths}.

Gamchha done well with an urban kitsch twist? 145 East is here to break your paradigm with their line of attire with a hip, global look and feel. Their new collection combines gamchha, cotton and lungis with niche designs and cuts like the reversible man skirt, light jackets, shirt dresses and others. The summer collection boasts of a couples line with complimentary styles and designs. Also check out the red and white collection, absoloutely wow!

Mirza Ghalib Street’s hidden gem, Sasha, too has something new to add to your summer fashion. Wile they will host an exhibition of Parama’s exclusive blouses and apparels at their store between April 6 and 20, they have also stocked up on beautiful handwoven cotton saris from Phulia and Shantipur. There are also linen saris of mixed colour palette available to pick from. Looking for light tops and pants in hand-dyed cottons? They have those as well. The section on kidswear is one of the best in the city.

One of Kolkata’s oldest and most popular sari stores, Ananda’s unique creations have been worn by the likes of Indira Gandhi and Nargis. Pick up something from their range of exquisite, one-of-a-kind saris in silk and cotton printed with handblocks and screens that are intricately carved and created by their master designers. Ananda is one of the first boutiques in Kolkata — started in 1974 to revive Bengal handloom saris with an emphasis on quality printed silks and Bengal tangail silks.

This store serves as the outlet of the Crafts Council Of India, and stocks kurtas, blouses, stoles, saris and fabric sourced from all over the country. They have some of the best South cottons in the city. If you are looking to get your Poila Boishakh outfit stitched to fit your style, we recommend you pick up something from their fabrics secrion. It has indigos, ajrakh, daabu, floral Jaipur prints in the best cottons from INR 120.

One of Kolkata’s favourite store known to stock quality handloom clothing for both sexes {and kids}, Byloom’s summer collection is full of cottons that are high on vibrant colours. Their bright cotton Abir saris are a must-pick, as are the nokshi sari with intricate woven patterns on the border. The cotton animal print kurtas and tops for the little ones are just too cute. Men, don’t forget to check out their new line of kurtas this summer.