Shaadi Shopping: Subcontinental Style

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Markets and Shopping Areas

Ashiana, Clifton
This market—a bridal favorite—offers a gorgeous selection of fabrics for tailoring.

Empress Market, Saddar
Karachi’s central business district is full of fabric, kaam and tailor shops.

Kahkashan Market, Clifton
This is the place to go for any kind of kaam you can imagine. Bring a close-up picture from a magazine, and the artisans here will replicate it. An economical way to get beautiful bridal clothes without the designer markup. But take a local—dealing with the shopkeepers isn’t always easy.

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Bargello

The Forum Mall, Clifton
A modern mall in upscale Clifton area of the city with a wide variety of shops including jewelry, handicrafts, clothing and shoes. You’ll find reasonably-priced bangles, costume jewelry and the like.

Gulf Towers, Clifton
One-stop shopping for reasonably-priced bangles, dupattas, parandas and other mish-mash.

Park Towers Shopping Mall, Clifton
Karachi’s premier shopping mall with up-market boutiques and jewelry stores.

Tariq Road
Another popular shopping in area in Karachi, you’ll find several shopping centers including Dolmen Centre, Dolmen Mall, Shalimar Centre, Rabi Centre, Dubai Mall, Tariq Centre. Some stores carry ready-made ensembles, but you’ll find kaam karigars and tailors, also.

Bridal Wear

For a complete listing of Pakistani bridal designers, see page two of Vow to Wow. For mid-market finds, see below.

Bargello
This gigantic store offers bridal and party wear that “borrows” from top designers. Order from anywhere in the world.
28-C, 5th Commercial Street, Khayaban-e-Badadr, Phase V, Defence, Karachi, 75500, Pakistan
9221 534 1401, 02, 03 & 04

Body Focus Museum
What started as a casualwear line as involved into a boutique with denim casuals; pret a porter cottons; Knitwear; Hand block printed pure silks; Classic evening and occasional bridal wear
38-C-6 Off Main Shahrae-Faisal Karachi 75400 Pakistan
Tel: (92-21)452-5631 FAX: (92-21)4529870

The Designers
This outlet carries bridal and partywear from high-end designers such as HSY, Karma and others. If you’re in Karachi and want access to Lahore’s designers, this is the place. Perfect also for those in a rush—you’ll find ready-made ensembles, as well.

Main Zamzama Blvd.
DHA, Karachi
92 21 586 1915, 92 21 537 0126

Hilal Silk Palace
The most beautiful fabrics you can find–but they come at a price.
Zaibunissa Street, Saddar
Ph:5211617

Jabeen’s House of Wedding
Mid-market bridal wear.
Shop #1,Sasi Centre,Tariq RoadP.E.C.H.S
Ph:4389196

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Amir Adnan
Men’s Wear

MM Alam Road is the home of many designers, including for all menswear.

Amir Adnan
Designer synonymous with men’s wedding fashion. He is widely credited for re-introducing the sherwani into modern fashion. Famous clients include both Indian and Pakistani heads of state.
Shop A-12, Park Towers Mall, Clifton
Tel: 9221 5832661

Shop G-100, Dolmen Mall, Tariq Road
Tel: 9221 4381613

Shop 14, Plot 14-D, Sky Garden Apartments
Tipu Sultan Road, KDA
Tel: 9221 4313056

Shop 2, 14-C, Zamzama Lane 5
Defense Phase-V
Tel: 9221 5861875

Shop 313, Block-Z, Commercial Area
Defense Housing Authority
Tel: 9242 5896441-42

Deepak Perwani
Men’s and women’s designer best known for stylish groomswear.
Shop 0-1, 16-C, Zamzama Commercial Lane #4
DHA, Karachi
92 21 587 7371

Gr 8a, Ground Floor
Park Towers
Clifton, Karachi
92 21 582 4625

Junaid Jamshed
Former Vital Signs singer’s boutique known for men’s wear.
16C, 2nd Zamzama Commercial Lane, Phase V, Defence
Ph: 5834904

Fine Jewelry

Aliel
Formerly known as Sayegh and Co., these high-end jewelers carry the work of numerous talented designers. Feeling extra wealthy? Check out their “Nur” collection—each piece is completely unique and will never be replicated.
Shop # 64 & 65
Regent Plaza Hotel
Shahrah-e-Faisal
Karachi.
92 21 5670752
92 21 5670763
karachi@aliel.com

Meena Jewellers
Reliable jewelers in Saddar.
Parr Zaibunnisa Street, Saddar
Ph: 522305

Chhotani Jewellers
One of Karachi’s oldest and most famous jewelers. They specialize in oriental gold ornaments, made to order.
Zaib-Un-Nisa Street, Saddar, Karachi 74400.
9221- 514-775, 567-1021

Crescent Jewellers
Very expensive but beautiful selection. Find everything you can imagine, from gaudy to elegant.
31/34, Bliss Shopping Centre, Zaibunnisa Street,Saddar
Ph: 522785, 527750

Karat Jewellers
They will copy anything you show them to a tee. They carry a line of traditional, ethnic, contemporary jewelry.
Karachi Marriott
92 21 111 22 33 44
92 21 568 0111

Private Collection
Exclusive, beautiful diamond jewelry imported from Italy.
Karachi Marriott
568 0175

Bangles, Bindis, Henna and Other Miscellaneous Wedding Goods

See Markets and Shopping Areas above.

Bori Bazar
Cave-like shops are stacked to their ceilings with excellent pieces of embroidery, hand prints and other goods.

Uzma Market
An alternative to Bori if you don’t want to venture to the center of the city.
DHA, Clifton n

Bombay City Guide: Page 2
New Delhi City Guide: Page 3
Lahore City Guide: Page 4
Karachi City Guide: Page 5

For a complete list of Indian and Pakistani bridal designers, see page 2 of Vow to Wow.

Ismat Sarah Mangla is dreaming of a shopping trip to the Subcontinent.
Published on June 18, 2007.
Photography: Header image by Asad Chaudary. All other photographs courtesy of the photographers noted and designers and businesses featured.

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