Shopper's Choice

Get ready to usher in the festive mood. Make a fashion statement this festive season and stand out in the crowd

       With the NRI season on and Ramzan and Onam, round the corner, the retailers in the city are on a roll. With the festive season gaining momentum, excitement is in the air and shoppers have their hands full.

The NRI fests are still on and ‘Czarina’, who has a regular NRI clientele, has stocked up a good NRI collection of sarees and salwars. “NRI’s look for Indian party wears, mostly Anarkalis and silks. Pink, especially hot pick is the colour of the season and bright shades are highly in demand,” says Sheila James, its proprietor. Besides this, they also have an exclusive  Ramzan collection. “For Onam, we plan to bring in a collection of exclusive ethnic Kerala saris in hand embroidery, block print and applique work, which is unique yet traditional,” adds James.

Similarly, ‘Niveda’, an accessories shop in Trivandrum has something in store for all sections of women. “For NRIs, we have chunky funky bright coloured accessories and with Onam round the corner, terracotta jewellery sets and polymer jhumkas, to match the traditional Kerala wear are usually in high demand,” says Malathi Venkatesh, owner. Other moving items include crystals, beads, chandelier earrings, uncut diamonds and bridal accessories. “We stock items depending on the cultural taste of our customers. If its stonework for Ramzan, its metal items that are moving during Onam,” adds Venkatesh.

Jewellers are not far behind. Festive season, especially Onam is the time when gold sales soar sky-high. The fluctuating gold prices will not stop shoppers especially the NRIs from buying jewellery. “Antique and diamond jewellery are more popular with the NRIs, though there is a huge demand for traditional jewellery as well during Onam,” confides the store manager of a popular jewellery brand in the city.

                Suhas Rao, managing director, Bhima Jewellery, is very happy with the response received for their diamond campaign to attract NRIs.  “This Onam, World Gold Council has tied up with us to launch ‘Auza’, an exclusive bridal collection, in Kerala, which will be available in our select stores only. To attract customers on Sunday, we also have a ‘lucky Sunday’ scheme for Sunday shoppers,” adds Rao.

- Sherene Joseph
(Published in Times of India, Trivandrum)