| What you see - A very stylish frosted glass door sets | | | | There's a whiff of Gujarat in Bandhej's trademark |
| the tone for what's inside as you enter Bandhej, a | | | | embroidery on the kurtas, available in colors like lemon |
| store that stocks clothes for men and women. | | | | yellow, light green, all time favorite white and black and |
| Located on Indiranagar's 100 Feet Road, it's easily | | | | in bright jewel tones like red, green, yellow etc. If you |
| approachable and worth a visit if you love interesting | | | | like tie and dye work, then there are salwar kameez |
| colors and textures. Started in Ahmedabad by National | | | | sets in beautiful contrasts with plain kurtas and tie and |
| Institute of Design graduate Archana Shah in 1980, | | | | dye salwars and dupattas. We also loved the |
| Bandhej today also incorporates western styles in its | | | | collection of whites and blacks here with |
| range of designs, making the collection a trendy urban | | | | appliqué work, self prints and varied textures. |
| wear one with a very Indian essence. Their Bangalore | | | | These are paired with salwars, churidars or straight |
| store is neatly divided by frosted glass into different | | | | pants and priced around Rs. 2,000 and above. You |
| sections, making shopping here an easy job! | | | | can also pick up intricately embroidered stoles apart |
| What you get - The first thing we spot on entering the | | | | from block printed or woven dupattas to complement |
| store are a range of stunning jackets, short kurtas and | | | | your look. |
| shirts for women in silk, in a range of Rs. 2,000 to Rs. | | | | Bandhej also stocks beautiful sarees, from patolas to |
| 4,000 plus. Some are delicately embroidered, some | | | | benarasis. We saw some absolutely gorgeous silk |
| have tie and dye work, some have a generous splash | | | | bandhini sarees with zari borders priced around Rs. |
| of mukaish (embellishment with fine, flattened metal | | | | 11,000. They also have a limited collection of stylish |
| wire) work on the bodice and some are embellished | | | | cholis in brocade, lycra mesh and other fabrics that |
| with pin-tucks. This is the western wear section for | | | | can be altered to your measurement. The store also |
| women and also has short tops in cotton (Rs. 800 and | | | | stocks woven mojris (traditional flat shoes) and silk |
| above), gorgeous A-line skirts (We loved the ones with | | | | bags. Bandhej has worked with weavers and rural |
| floral appliqué all over), comfortable drawstring | | | | craftspeople for decades and the difference shows in |
| pants and capris and very trendy silk pants. You will | | | | the designs. |
| also get sequined knitted tops in different styles here, | | | | Our verdict - Stores like Bandhej usually have their |
| starting from Rs. 800 onwards. | | | | own fan following. If you love traditional Indian designs |
| The men wear mainly comprises kurtas and shirts. | | | | like block prints, tie and dye, appliqué work and |
| The kurtas are available in different styles, in cotton | | | | gorgeous colors like russets, reds, royal blues, deep |
| and silk. While the cotton kurtas for men are around | | | | greens and summery lilacs and whites, visit Bandhej. |
| Rs. 800 and above, the silk ones start around Rs. 1,900 | | | | The prices may be on the higher side but with their |
| and are ideal wear for festive occasions or family | | | | well cut outfits and detailed craftwork, you will buy |
| events. Coming back to the more varied women's | | | | something that will last quite a while. Parking space is |
| wear, the next section is dedicated to Indian clothes, ie, | | | | available in the nearby lanes. |
| salwar kameez and sarees. | | | | |