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Cool maal

Imported gifts in new chic forms find their way into the NRI baggage, finds out SYEDA FARIDA

NOT LONG ago China silk, chocolates, lipsticks and television sets were popular gifts lugged by folks coming from the Middle East or UK. Today, with reduced import duties, higher purchasing power and mushrooming malls, the savvy Hyderabadi can choose to put those staid kurtas, pink matte enamels and frosted orange lipsticks from `foreign' in the attic. And, with availability of bedspreads and dinner sets at affordable prices in lifestyle stores here, no more do relatives rush to the second sales abroad. Ergo, imported gifts take a chic hi-fi avatar today.

If it is cosmetics it has to be Boots or Elizabeth Arden. So also cordless phones, digital cameras, DVD players, which top the electronics goods list.

"Before it used to be clothes and chocolates whenever my father came back from Abu Dhabi. Today MP3 players, IPOD and handsets are the `in' goods. Apart from being the latest versions, they come for a song when compared to the Indian market. For instance, I got my colour display handset last year, much before it came here. It helps to better your social status," recollects Jonathan, a BE (Production), II year student at Mufakkam Jah College of Engineering and Technology. Music is yet another widely appreciated import — walkmans, disc mans and western music CDs. "You get the latest high end stuff in music abroad. My aunt got me the effects pedal for my guitar from Canada," says Tamar Chatterjee, lead singer and guitarist, Gnarl.

Accessories such as evil eye from Turkey or shell jewellery from New Zealand are also a rage. As also souvenirs. "Unique gifts that are not available in here is what you look for abroad. Also, though you may get a better deal for products such as say a laptop there, service factor makes buying it here a better option," says Shankar Krishnamurthy, Fusion 9.

"It also depends from where you are coming. Malaysia, Bangkok and Dubai make very good shopping destinations. Products come very cheap here. So is America, especially for clothes. Europe is expensive. While shopping for people back home you tend to pick things which are easy to carry and do not add to the baggage. It's mostly perfumes from duty free shops, and accessories," says Bunty Bajaj, event manager.

Quality is the USP that makes the products welcome. Some of these include baby diapers, lingerie and pens. So also high-end cosmetics and assorted miniature perfumes collection. "Here, the prices are inflated. Also, you don't get as much variety for all that hype. For example, bath and body product bouquets and body lotions are things I ask my sister who is in Atlanta to bring for me," says Karuna, a lecturer. Other popular buys from the US include cubic zirconium jewellery that stands out for the elegant setting of stones, and branded tees. "My cousins got me T-shirts and party wear tops. I have never seen anything close to them here. The fitting is different. The designs are cool— collars and the rest. Like you see in Hollywood movies," says Uma, who works for an MNC.

The writing on the wall, never mind the branded stores, international cosmetics labels et al, the imported gift retain its appeal. It could be the right fit, sheer quality and above all the whiff of the foreign land that it holds. So just go ahead and mail your `to bring' list this season.

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