On your next travels, embrace the effortlessly chic Boho look favoured by celebrities, featuring free-flowing silhouettes, frilly dresses and skirts, and funky jewellery. "BoHo," short for bohemian, epitomises a style incorporating vibrant colours, abstract prints, retro-inspired dresses, and more. When shopping in Kolkata, indulge in the boho aesthetic at these recommended places.
The stretch of shops from Triangular Park to Gariahat crossing is one of Kolkata's most popular shopping hubs. This area is like the Janpath of Kolkata but much bigger. It offers a mix of shops and pavement stalls where you can find everything you need, from clothing to ceramics, home decor to books, and much more. As you stroll the shops, you'll discover boho clothes at bargain prices, such as brightly printed shorts, layered and flouncy skirts, palazzos and culottes, jackets, ponchos, tees, shoes, sandals, and even bustiers and spaghetti strap tops.
The jewellery stalls in Gariahat sell various items, from cloth bead necklaces in gamchha patterns to incredible clay Durga pendants and Afghan styles. Several stalls sell cloth and canvas totes in quirky prints, many of which are made here and shipped abroad to places like the Tate Modern, MoMa, and even The New Yorker. The stretch towards Golpark has stalls selling pre-owned clothes, including dresses and tops in good condition from GAP, Uniqlo, and Zara, as well as brands from Korea. You can also pick up exciting bags in the fabric from the Khadi outlet here. However, walking around the crowded pavements can be taxing. You may want to stop for some momos and refreshing iced tea at Dzomsa. This area is known as the cafe neighbourhood and one of the best places to have the beverage is at 8th Day Cafe or at Blue Tokai.
This complex houses "state emporiums," which are outlets from every state showcasing their textiles and crafts. For boho vibes, try the Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan outlets for dresses, skirts, and shirts in block prints and with mirror work. You can also find incredible stoles and pherans from Kashmir to layer your look. The Khadi outlet on the ground floor sells excellent pants and tops in excellent duotone fabrics. Apart from the state emporiums, there are many shops on the ground floor selling everything from indigo wraparounds to silver jewellery. It's a large place with many shops, so come with time in hand. While you're there, visit Dolly's Tea Shop for a cup of Darjeeling and some excellent ham sandwiches. Here's a pro tip - not many know that Dakshinapan now has a building next to the Madhusudan Mancha, where each shop stocks products, including clothing, from each district of Bengal. For instance, the Birbhum stall sells fantastic clothes and stoles in kantha work.
Address: Gariahat Road (South), Dakshinapan, Kolkata-700068.
Byloom is well-known for its exquisite sarees, but they also offer a variety of other clothing items such as shirts, wraps, tops, and bottoms featuring fun prints like crocodiles, Kolkata's yellow taxis, and retro Bollywood film scenes. They also have a wide range of stoles in various styles. In the jewellery section, you can find stunning silver and bronze pieces, vibrant crochet chokers, and layered necklaces with cloth beads. To complete your look, check out their selection of bags, which includes canvas totes with unique block prints and kantha stitch purses on silk. The attached Byloom Canteen are known for their very Bangla menu offering chops and cutlets, kosha mangsho and luchi, and more.
Address: 58 B Hindusthan Park, Kolkata – 700029
This well-known boutique and cafe brand is famous for its range of unique ceramic products made in Shantiniketan. Established by a mother-daughter duo, this cosy place offers a variety of clothing including saris, dresses, shirts, tops, and stoles made with Bengal's signature weaves. A great gift idea is something from their jewellery range, such as the earrings and neckpieces made with burnished copper and ceramic stones.
Address: 49/1 Hindustan Park, Gariahat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700029
This government-run chain of outlets in West Bengal specialises in promoting Bengal textiles and handicrafts. You can find a high-quality selection of shirts, tops, pants, skirts, and dhotis, all made from signature Bengal fabrics like jamdani and taant. The outlets offer a great variety of stoles, ranging from marble prints on silk batiks to mul cotton stoles featuring Rabindranath Tagore's poetry and illustrations, adding a touch of panache to any outfit. You can also pick up Shantiniketan leather clutches and bags in various patterns, including polka dots and paisleys. We love their silk bags with striking kantha and Baluchari patterns, great to enhance any outfit. Biswa Bangla has multiple outlets in Kolkata, including one at the airport.
Address: 17, Mother Teresa Sarani, Park Street area, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016
Address: Shop no 5 & 6, Ground Floor, 2, Gariahat Road (South), Dakshinapan, Kolkata-700068.
This local indie brand has a loyal following of customers who come for their handmade clothes, accessories, and home decor items. We recommend their dresses, kaftans, shirts, jackets, and skirts in handloom fabrics with interesting, edgy cuts and distinctive hand-block prints or embroidery. One perk of hanging out here is their collection of jazz music that they play in the background.
Address: AranyaBaari, 379, Jodhpur Park, Kolkata, West Bengal 700068