Cricket and farsan are fine, but you must shop in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad has always had a complicated relationship with showing off. It’s a city of serious money and even more serious craft, and the best of both tend to live quietly behind unmarked doors and in spaces that require a little asking around to find. What’s emerged in recent years is a retail landscape that mirrors a tension between restraint and richness. Here galleries behave like boutiques, boutiques feel like galleries, and labels are rooted deeply in material knowledge. Whether you’re after a one-of-a-kind shibori kurta or a length of hand-block-printed material that’s been in the making for three generations, we’ve got just where you can find it in Ahmedabad.

For rare textiles and clothing

Bougainvillea: The Creative Veranda

In a beautifully restored ancestral home in Gulbai Tekra, gallerist Ishita Parikh has created something that, for now, has no name. It’s where retail meets gallery and clothing is presented as collectibles. Here you’ll find single-artist exhibitions designed as an experience where craft narratives, documentation, and processes form the core. Shows run for dedicated days (usually a few days to a week) and always begin with a preview, so it’s essential to be there at the right time. The line-up has spotlighted labels such as péro, 11.11/eleven eleven, and Estaa Jewels and the works of embroidery artist Asif Sheikh, so keep an eye on their calendar to see what’s next.

The Nod recommends: This weekend is dedicated to the papier-mâché and brass art works and decor by artist Vaishnavi Walvekar.

Address: A2, Vaibhav Apartments, opposite Samarpan Flats, Gulbai Tekra, Ahmedabad - 380006. Open daily from 10:30 am to 8 pm

Studio Adheera

Founder Dipika Udhani is a Computer Applications graduate who learnt the art of shibori on her own and established a label around it. Founded in 2016, the brand makes seasonless, anti-fit womenswear in handloom cotton and silk, where no design is ever repeated and every piece is as much about the surface as the silhouette. The shibori techniques Udhani has developed are meticulous and varied. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she expanded her repertoire to include bundle and eco-dyeing, working extensively with plant-based dyes before introducing a full natural-dye collection.

The Nod recommends: Opt for a shibori-dyed breezy kaftan or kurta upper and a pair of matching bottoms.

Address: Near A/40, Aryaman Bungalow Road, Shilaj, Ahmedabad - 380058. Studio visits by appointment: +91 76009 50873. Open 11 am to 5:30 pm. Closed on weekends

Patola by Nirmal Salvi

In the entire world, there are only three Salvi families who produce authentic Patan patolas, and each of them is GI-certified by the government. Nirmal Salvi is one of them. The craft of making patola textiles is unique for its use of a technique called double ikat, in which both weft and warp threads are resist-dyed for each colour before being woven on the loom. Two weavers have to work together to build the intricate geometric pattern so distinctive to the technique; in one day they can usually produce just 10 inches of cloth. A true patola sari holds its colours for about 300 years and appreciates with age.

The Nod recommends: Get one of the brand’s signature sindoor-red patola saris.

Address: 104 Stellar, Sindhubhavan Road, Ahmedabad - 380059. Open daily from 10:30 am to 8 pm

Neelgar by Kamaldeep Kaur 

Kamaldeep Kaur has exhibited her work in over 25 countries, participated in the Cheongju International Craft Biennial, and has worked with designers such as Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. But at the heart of the Neelgar brand, which she founded in 2005, is the colour indigo (her nickname is NeelKamal), which she discovered on a trip to Jaipur. For the first 10 years of the brand’s history, she focused exclusively on natural dyes, but now Kaur’s work includes explorations in all forms of dyeing—bandhani, shibori, leheriya, and more.

The Nod recommends: Their silk patchwork blouses can be worn with a sari but also double up as cropped shirts to be worn with separates.

Address: Near Keshavbagh, A-109, Ratnaakar Nine Square Hotel, Judges Bungalow Road, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad - 380015. Open 11 am to 7:30 pm. Closed Sundays

Tilla Shop & Café 

Designer Aratrik Dev Varman studied Textile Design at NID Ahmedabad and fashion at ENSAD Paris, and in 2011 founded his label Tilla to continue his work with Indian textiles. His collections span fashion, wallpaper, interior textiles, and textile installations, and the production runs deliberately small and slow. Tilla clothing is sold at leading design stores in India and internationally, but the Ahmedabad shop is where you’ll find pieces from current and previous collections alongside the Vintage Project (where the brand upcycles vintage trims and textiles, turning them into new, wearable garments) and the Lakshmi bespoke bridal and occasion-wear line.

The Nod recommends: Visit during the brand’s annual open house, when you’ll get everything at special prices and can also get a slice of pizza at the cafe.

Address: 3A/B, Brahmakshatriya Nagar Society, Narayan Nagar Road, opposite Union Bank, Paldi, Ahmedabad - 380007. Open 12 pm to 9 pm by appointment. Closed Mondays

Fakira Fab

The story of Fakira Fab began in 1960 when Fakruddin Ji, scion of a traditional block-printing family from Udaipur, came to Ahmedabad with a vision of taking his craft beyond the boundaries of the state. By 1964, he had joined Calico Textile Mills, and after working there for three decades his family decided to start their own brand, Fakira Fab, in 2021, with all the learnings from working with Calico. One of their key innovations is Banjara dyeing, which gives their textiles a brightness and vividness that’s unlike anything produced by conventional block-printing houses. Whether you are a designer or just someone who wants to understand the hype about Indian textiles, visit their dyeing unit-cum-store to immerse yourself in the world.

The Nod recommends: Sign up for one of their block printing workshops for a chance to try your hand at this ancient technique.

Address: Shop number 7, 1 Besides Ashapuranagar, Khodiyar Nagar Rd, Khodiyarnagar, Behrampura, Ahmedabad 382405. Open daily from 10 am to 8 pm

Dyelogue

Rachita Parekh, founder of Dyelogue, specialises in all things bandhani. At her Bodakdev store you can shop for a range of designs in playful colourways, everything from aabhas, which is a kalidar kurta with West Asian influences, to dupattas and saris accented with marodi embroidery and Kutch mirrorwork. These are the kind of heirloom pieces that will make it into a bride’s trousseau and passed down generations.

The Nod recommends: A marodi-embroidered dupatta with the twisted-yarn embroidery technique is extraordinary up close and utterly irreproducible by machine.

Address: 10, Aaron Spectra, Rajpath Rangoli Road, near Rajpath Club, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad. Open 11 am to 8 pm. Closed Sundays

Asal

This tiny rustic store with cool, cow dung floor, old school wooden cabinets and castor oil lamps (the store runs without any electricity!) has been operating since 2001 on the conviction that traditional practices are both sustainable and worth reviving. Their unusual breadth of their inventory is a reflection of this, ranging from organic food products to handicrafts from all over the country, all made using traditional methods of slow, manual craftsmanship. Kinkhab is their specialty—an ornate, decorative brocade fabric traditionally made using a drawloom, with ahimsa mulberry silk, hand-spun using a traditional takali with pure silver and gold kasab thread made by a traditional jaala loom.

The Nod recommends: Head here for stacks of fabric at unbeatable prices—bandhani-dyed matka silk, checked handloom cotton, and more.

Address: 5, Tejpal Society, near Fatehnagar bus stop, opposite Ankur School, Paldi, Ahmedabad - 380007. Open daily from 9 am to 7 pm

Vraj:bhoomi

Since 2013, Vraj:bhoomi has been making the case that hand-block printing is not a heritage technique waiting to be revived but a craft that is alive, dynamic, and carries a universal appeal. Born in Gujarat and nurtured by the desert artisans of Kutch, the brand’s distinct use of natural dyes (tones of indigo, madder red, and charcoal grey) and preference for geometric motifs make their work instantly recognisable. Their textiles and garments are stocked in over 45 countries, but the studio in Ahmedabad is worth a visit for its quiet locale and cosy interiors filled with fresh greenery and wooden furnishings.

The Nod recommends: A length of yardage for a custom piece, or their kimono overlays, either cropped or full-length, that are a great breezy summer layering option.

Address: Ground floor, 1, Rangkunj Society, near Naranpura Crossroads, Naranpura, Ahmedabad - 380013. Open 10:30 am to 7 pm. Closed Sundays

Anuroop Fabrics

Since 1993, Anuroop Fabrics has quietly built a reputation as one of Ahmedabad’s best-kept secrets for pure silk and handloom textiles. Here you’ll find an exclusive collection of rare weaves and luxurious textures—everything from Chanderi to brocade and all that lies in between—from some of India’s most skilled artisans. The clientele reflects that: designers, creators, and serious connoisseurs who understand that real luxury in a fabric lies in its purity and the craft behind it, not the label attached.

The Nod recommends: Keep aside at least a couple of hours to browse through their collection.

Address: 28, Ratnam Complex, opposite Iscon Arcade, Chimanlal Girdharlal Road, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad - 380006. Open daily from 11 am to 8 pm

For jewellery with a story

Aarjavee

The inspiration for creative director Aarjavee Shah was her grandmother, affectionately known as Baa, who would gift young Shah trinkets, jewels, and clothes from her own wardrobe but never without an accompanying narrative. The early education that every object is inextricably linked to its memory became the founding philosophy for the entire label. Every piece of jewellery that Aarjavee creates has been born from a memory—a feeling, a childhood habit, a moment. The Shizen collection, for example, began with the memory of a pencil sharpener and the strands of shavings that simultaneously evoke the shape of a flower. The pieces are handcrafted from brass, with hand-embroidered glass beads on fabric, which keeps them tactile, lightweight, and unlike anything else in the market.

The Nod recommends: The delicate Chandni earrings feature tiny crescent moons and stars, while the beaded Moti choker is the perfect accessory for wedding season.

Address: G/F-7, Silver Arc, near Mahalaxmi Crossroads, Paldi, Ahmedabad - 380007. Open 10:30 am to 6 pm. Closed Sundays

By Nirjari

Nirjari Jhaveri, the founder, works with a combination of brass, fabric scraps, and abraded block-printing blocks, which she upcycles into creative, contemporary jewellery. The combination of textile and metal is the brand’s USP—think statement ear cuffs with ajrakh fabric or multilayered necklaces that combine fabric strips with brass pendants and much more. Multiple pieces from the brand recently made an appearance in a Diljit Dosanjh music video, including their bestselling maang tikka with a paisley motif, which is somewhere between a headband and a traditional tikka.

The Nod recommends: Beyond the jewellery, keep an eye on Handpicked Treasures, a curated edit of one-of-a-kind finds spanning clothing, home decor, and jewellery that Jhaveri sources personally.

Address: St. lane 1, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad – 380015. No walk-ins allowed; by appointment only

Creyons by Mansi

Silver girlies, in particular, will love designer Mansi Dhruva’s chunky, antique-looking jewels that are instant statement makers. Celebrities like Tara Sutaria and Konkona Sen Sharma have already worn Dhruva’s designs—the broad tribal-inspired necklaces and dramatic cuffs embellished with ghungrus that make even a low-key outfit memorable. Their bestselling line, however, is the Kaleido range, which combines metal with hand-cut glass pieces for a pop of Mondrian-esque colour.

The Nod recommends: Kaleido for colour, or Dwij, a range of refurbished products, including brooches and necklaces, made from products that didn’t make it to the shelves.

Address: Platinum Plaza, Satya Marg, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad - 380054. Open from 11:30 am to 8 pm. Closed Sundays

Baka

Baka means ‘fool’ in Japanese. It’s also a Gujarati slang for the word ‘dear’ and it’s also founder and designer Rebecca Reubens’s nickname. Reubens founded the label in 2020 while simultaneously running a sustainability design studio specialising in furniture and interiors, doing a PhD, writing, and raising a family as a military wife.

Reubens’s work sits at the intersection of craft, design, and sustainability, made in the Ahmedabad atelier where the team also works. It’s a small, committed studio, and if you’re in the city, they’ll happily have you in for a conversation about what sustainable jewellery-making actually looks like in practice.

The Nod recommends: The Pichwai collection breaks down the key motifs of a pichwai painting (the lotus, bulls horns, even Shiva’s eye), reconstructs them as 3D forms, and reassembles them as minimal, elegant jewels made of hand-carved tourmaline, amethyst, rose quartz, and more with silver.

Address: Rhizome, Jay Shefali Row Houses, 33, 132 Foot Ring Road, Shivranjani Crossroad, Ahmedabad - 380015. To book an appointment, call +9185117 16620