You will have to travel all the way to the Hiranandani Gardens in Powai to visit the Culture Shop, but the trip will be well worth the effort. Though it occupies only 700 sq ft of area at the Galleria shopping complex, the collection in the store makes up for it. The decor in the store can match up to any of the major lifestyle stores of the city. It was the appreciation that Priti Hiranandani received for her collections that motivated her to come up with idea of opening a lifestyle store. "I always loved artefacts and decorative items which I kept collecting from all over India. I travel a lot and pick up whatever takes my fancy. All the items have been personally selected by me straight from the interiors of the villages of northern, southern and eastern parts of India."

With the market growing at a reasonably fast rate, the future definitely looks bright for such stores. "The store, for me, is a mini India, making an earnest attempt to revive a dying art. One of the highlights is the absence of middlemen on account of whom the artisans suffer and the vast treasure trove of Indian art and crafts is gradually dying a slow death ," says Priti.

With Powai emerging as one of the most happening places in Mumbai, "the store is bound to be a hit," says the confident owner. The idea of visiting lifestyle stores is often very frightening, especially given the price tags, but as Priti puts it, "most people feel that good stuff is always expensive, but I want to do away with this mind set."  At Culture Shop, you can pick up items for Rs.40 or if your pocket permits you can spend Rs.5000. Miniature paintings form Jaipur with gold work, lampshades made of animal hide , silver jewellery, wrought iron products, clothes - are all bound to take your fancy.

Address:

Culture Shop, Galleria Shopping Mall,
Shop No. 93, Central Avenue Hiranandani Gardens,
Powai, Mumbai 400076
Phone : 579 7505 / 06
e-mail: priti@hiranandani.net

By : Sharmistha Chatterjee
Photographer : Uma Kadam