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Shopaholics rejoice

PHOTO: T. SINGARAVELOU

PAMPER YOURSELF With the wide range of options available here

One of the must-do things for everyone visiting Auroville, is to shop at those exotic boutiques there. But thankfully the winds of fashion are generously blowing our way now and there is no need to go as far as Auroville to buy that pair of white tro users or the funky scarf that you have longed for. Special boutiques in Puducherry showcase a breathtaking range of the best of innovation and creativity from Auroville. All it takes is a short walk around town.

Kalki, a swanky two storeyed showroom on Mission Street, is perhaps the best place to shop for products made by Auromode, one of the largest garment retailers and exporters in the region. The display is an eye-grabbing medley of all that a girl wants– clothes, accessories, knick-knacks and bags in blues, violets, magentas and hot fuchsias. “Almost all the garments and accessories we stock here are sourced from Auromode. They are the specialists in hand painted silk,” emphasizes David, assistant manager of the store. Exquisite shawls, bags, kurtas and lamp shades in mellow shades gain immense character with hand painted designs, which range from intricate patterns to just an outline of Krishna for that ethnic touch.

The extensive use of fabrics in accessories is perhaps the significant feature of products made by Auromode. With minimal use of metal or real beads, almost everything is made of fabric, mainly silk and chiffon. Beads, cuff links and flowers fashioned out of cloth find their place in the range of slippers, bracelets, necklaces and lots more. Innovation is found at its best in the necklaces made of silk cloth painted puppets. Chiffon tie-hand bands provide the retro quotient. Auroknits, an assortment of woollen wear, is also available here.

Apart from these, there are the striking dupion silk dresses, ruffled chiffon skirts, brocade silk belts, hats and bags. The latest addition to this attractive collection is what the store calls “Ephemeral jewellery in oriental fragrances.” Made of natural tree and bark, each piece comes with its own natural fragrance. These are also available at Rs. 1500 per kilogram, in an assortment of 12 fragrances (rose, opium, orange cinnamon and honeysuckle to name a few), for all those who want to put together their own customised pot pourri.

Maroma is yet another well-known brand from the stables of Auroville. “We stock over 1000 Maroma products, including incense sticks in 75 fragrances and candles weighing 30 kilograms,” reveals David. The brand’s specialties include clay pot fragrant candles and ‘reed’ diffusers.

Maroma products are also available at other Auroville boutiques in town, such as La Boutique D’Auroville on JN Street. In addition the boutique displays silver jewellery studded with natural stones, crochet footwear, jute products and T-shirts with ethnic prints. Mangalgiri and Chettinad cotton are a constant feature in the bags, clutches, purses, back packs and toilet pouches.

So bid goodbye to the thought of travelling ten kilometres, for, be it fashionable clothes, accessories or natural beauty care – they are all available right here, in the middle of town.

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