Our search for affordable menswear in the city took us to Katra Neel in Chandni Chowk. It’s one of Delhi’s oldest cloth bazaars where you can score quality fabrics at wholesale rates. While you’ll find numerous shops selling fabrics only on a bulk basis, we also managed to find five great stores that have yards of stunning cloth material at ridiculously reasonable prices.
Now, let’s make one thing clear: Chandni Chowk is for men too!
This store inside Krishna Gali might be tiny, but the variety of fabrics they have here is impressive. Terry cotton, pure cotton, linens and more in solid colours, checks, plaid or line prints, these guys have it all. One of our colleagues got a plain cotton Nehru jacket stitched from Sarika in just two days for INR 1200 only {includes stitching & fabric cost}. The owner also told us that you can get a Sherwani set with jutti and safa here for just INR 40,000 {which would easily cost you around INR 1.5 lakh elsewhere}. A broke guy’s paradise? We think so.
Price: A two-piece linen suit here would set you back by around INR 4,000. Now that’s a steal!
Shri Narain’s is a tiny shop that has been in Katra Neel for more than 35 years. It’s a bummer that they only offer cotton {mixed and pure} and linen fabrics, but they pretty much make up for their lack of variety in fabric material with their quality and experimental prints. Paisleys, polka dots, aztec, dobby prints and more, if you’re the avant-garde fashionsta, this place will be your paradise. You can just buy the fabric here, or ask them to hook you up with one of their tailors who can create summer-y kurtas, shirts and trousers for you.
Price: Starting at INR 100 per metre.
A lover of classics and solid colours? At Goyal Textile, you’ll be spoiled for choice {if you want cream, you can easily find more than 20 shades of the same}. They’ve got khadi, linen and 100% giza cotton to even thicker jute type fabrics with prints. From old-school safari suits to shirts and trousers, you can find material for pretty much all kinds of clothes here. We’re told that a custom terrycot shirt at Goyal’s will cost you less than INR 500 {includes fabric and stitching cost}. So, plan a trip to Katra Neel with the guys soon maybe?
Price: INR 150 – 200/metre.
Sea Green Textile is definitely one of those massive shops in the area with two floors full of fabric rolls. While they stock up on plain cotton and linen fabrics, it is for their variety in dressy cloth material like jacquard and brocade that we think it’s worth stopping by. If you’re a fan of florals {in all its colourful glory}, paisleys or are looking for something in a fabric similar to silk for dressy times, this is a great place to start.
Price: Around INR 500 for jacquard {negotiable}.
Navprit Textiles is one of the first stores you’ll come across as soon as you enter the Katra Neel lane. We’d particularly recommend this store for their range of quality Italian fabrics sold at unbelievably economical rates. Some of the brands they stock up on are Tessilstrona, Vercelli and Vesilio. We also spotted some ready-made Nehru jackets like a white dhupian silk jacket {INR 2,500, includes stitching & fabric cost} and a flashy georgette one with colourful handiwork {INR 2,000, includes stitching & fabric cost}. Flashy not your style? You’ll also find fabrics with plain lines and in solid colours that are perfect for daily wear.
Price: Starting at INR 300/metre {terrycot}.
