Think art gallery—but for Benarasi saris

From a denim ER to shaadi-ready chic

Consider this your retail personality test. In Mumbai, Rkive City’s new space in Bandra comes with a built-in repair shop where you can bring in your battered denim and they’ll resurrect it. A few kilometres away, at Phoenix Palladium in Lower Parel, is Tarun Tahiliani’s luxury prêt line, OTT, which has finally opened doors in Mumbai after its 2024 debut. Think occasion wear but less occasion-bound. Minimalists and maximalists would both be pleased to find eye-catching prints and monochrome separates that are easy to mix, alongside a selection of bags you can use beyond shaadi szn.

Over in New Delhi, Shanti Banaras has transformed its new address in Ambawatta One to a palate cleanser. It’s a calm, almost monastic space where the saris do all the talking—rich silks and intricate brocades displayed in fresh, creative ways. The new Off-White store in Bengaluru, meanwhile, swings in the opposite direction with chrome-heavy interiors stocked with everything from streetwear staples (for men and women) to lifestyle goods. —Chloe Chou

Rkive City: Shop No 3, Sunbeam CHS, Perry Cross Road, Bandra West, Mumbai - 400050

OTT Tarun Tahiliani: Third floor, Phoenix Palladium, Lower Parel, Mumbai - 400013

Shanti Banaras: First floor, Ambawatta - 3, Ambawatta One, Kalka Das Marg, Mehrauli, New Delhi - 110030

Off-White: Upper ground floor, Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bellary Road, Byataranyanapura, Bengaluru - 560092

An SPF you won’t “forget” to use

The problem with sunscreen use is not awareness, it’s commitment. The Ordinary UV Filters SPF 40 serum has just landed in India and makes a solid case for daily application by giving your skin the dewiest glow. It’s in vivo tested, which means it actually does what it promises. The texture is like a nice, viscous serum that glides onto skin with ease and delivers a glassy, hydrated finish. There’s absolutely no white cast or chalkiness, which makes it suitable for most skin tones. It may feel a bit heavy if you have oily skin, but if your barrier is on the thirstier side, this is the kind of SPF you’ll reach for every morning without it feeling like a chore. —Chloe Chou

Available for ₹1,500 for 60 ml on nykaa.com

Some circus stripes for the little ones

Theatre performer Archana Ramaswamy has always been drawn to things of beauty, particularly when it comes to clothing and textiles. “They give me a sense of ease, calm, or groundedness,” says Ramaswamy over phone from Chennai. It’s exactly those feelings that she was looking to bring to children, particularly her daughter, when she launched her kidswear label Maison Madras earlier this year. The first collection is a collaboration with Delhi-based Studio Medium and is filled with the brand’s signature refined textiles—in this case, super-soft handloom mul and cotton—in deeper tones like sapphire blue, emerald green and ruby. The silhouettes are designed for children between the ages of two and 11 and will give adults some serious wardrobe envy. Think easy jumpsuits, dresses that double as overlays, pleated shorts with circus stripes, slip dresses edged with ruffles, and more. —Butool Jamal

Visit maisonmadras.co.in

Mari Ito brings her blooming, breathing world to Delhi

Geek/Art New Delhi is bringing Barcelona based, Japanese artist Mari Ito’s Origin of Desire to the city, and it’s the kind of show that draws you in with detail and keeps you there. Working with traditional Nihonga materials, like pigments, sumi ink, and washi, Ito creates paintings and sculptures where faces surface within flowers and organic forms, building a world that feels both intricate and alive. There’s a strong sense of observation in how Ito connects the body, emotion, and nature while also slipping in questions around gender, control, and desire without making it feel heavy-handed. It’s a compelling introduction to her work, and an easy pick if you’re looking to beat the heat and spend a few unhurried hours gallery-hopping this month. —Sheya Kurian

Origin of Desire will be on view at Bikaner House from April 24 to May 1, 2026

Ceramics you can’t drink out of

If your idea of ceramics was a few soup bowls, mugs, and some candlestands then this exhibition in Hyderabad will broaden your horizons. In Quiet Hands, curated by architect Kanan Modi, spotlights installations by Auroville’s Rakhee Kane and Mumbai’s Pooja Chamudiya, both ceramic artists but with distinct styles and approaches to firing their work. Large 24-inch-tall vessels, miniature feet, floor stands, and metallic tsubo jars with the glaze depicting torrential rains—you can see it all under one roof. “It is the coming together of sustainable materials through ceramic art and architecture,” adds Chamudiya. —Tanvi Parekh

In Quiet Hands is on till April 26 at Jayabheri Central - Experience Center, Nanakramguda, Hyderabad-500032

An embroidery maven turns to print

Indian fashion, especially festive or occasion wear, is usually synonymous with heavy embroidery (just look at the ongoing internet debate around the desi baddies at Coachella). Hyderabad-based designer Swapna Anumolu, the founder of Mishru, a label that’s built a reputation for its intricate surface embellishments, is an embroidery junkie herself. Yet, for spring/summer 2026, she wanted to switch up that conversation and put the focus on print instead. Her latest collection is titled ‘Imprint’ and is a playful approach to festive dressing that spotlights a series of retro, almost ’70s-style prints in destination-wedding-ready silhouettes—bralettes with tube skirts, ruffled minidresses, overlay skirts, corsets, and much more—all perfect for the friends and family of the bride. —Butool Jamal