What’s a summer holiday in Goa without some shopping? Revati Upadhya says, incomplete. She explores some of the city’s newest shopping options.
While shopping in holiday city isn’t a stretch, Goa is suddenly seeing several boutique stores popping up around town. Many of these wisely take advantage of the restored traditional Portuguese villas and give shopping a rather warm vibe.
Informal creativity @ People Tree
If the truly tasteful restoration was anything to go by, at first sight, we knew that People Tree in Goa would not disappoint. Set in a large village home in Assagaon, within the same property that houses Gunpowder, this store is filled with all things kooky, kitschy and happy.
From casual tee shirt designs and clothes dyed in natural vegetable dyes, and household accessories made from upcycled and repurposed material, to stationary made from recycled paper and jewellery made from thread, wood and metal, a trip to this store will have you itching to pick up at least a few things if not a whole bag full.
For more details, click here.
Find your quirky side @ Paper Boat Collective
Driving down Choghm Road towards Baga, it’s hard to miss the bright blue and white façade amidst a medley of small homes and shops. Squinting through dangly curtains of seashells, we realised this was the much talked about Paper Boat Collective, home to a range of beautiful and functional home décor and lifestyle products. Ceramic tableware and curios, furniture, toys and textiles – Paper Boat seems to have covered a wide assortment of collectible-worthy items. With tastefully done interiors, bright white walls, and surprisingly quirky cute collectables that creep up in every corner, its hard to ignore the sheer aesthetic appeal the store exudes, making it near impossible to walk in and walk out without buying something. So make time for a visit and we’re positive you will find something that intrigues you.
For more details, click here.
Play on @ Play Clan
These are the folks that do a swell job of making kitsch cool. And they’re now in Goa too. Head to the Play Clan store in Calangute, for a look at their trademark brightly coloured, fine-lines and geometrical products. Rooted in Indianisms, each of the products is a neon-coloured take on all things desi. Find something for the home, for yourself or stuff that makes great gifts for friends and family.
For more details, click here.
So, whether you’re just in the area and want to browse around or are looking for something quirky, stop by one of these shops and try something different.
