Here's a ready reckoner to some of Mumbai's fuss-free tailors and designers
Je Couturier & Monsieur M
For: Customised shirts and jackets for men, dresses for women
Jennifer Mulchandani at her boutique Je Couturier, Santacruz. Pic/Shadab Khan
From trousers and jackets for men to a beautiful evening dress for women, Jennifer Mulchandani can create an entire work or wedding wardrobe for you. "Monsieur M, which caters to men, is known for its choice of fabrics. I come here regularly for tailormade formal shirts. Jennifer helps you customise every detail, right down to the colour of the button thread. And I never fail to add a monogram to my shirts," says Riaan J George, luxury and menswear blogger.
As a skinny kid who loved clothes, Mulchandani never had fun when out shopping. "Either nothing fit me or I didn't like what did. I thought why not make clothes myself,"
she says.
Estimated delivery time: 15 days
Price: Rs 2,400 onwards (tailoring and fabric)
At: Shop No. 9, New Diamond Palace, Chapel Lane, SV Road, Santacruz West
Call: 9820841989
'Jennifer helps you customise every detail, right down to the colour of the button thread. And I never fail to add a monogram to my shirts'
Riaan J George, menswear blogger
Afshan Khan
For: Customised outfits in colours and fabrics to match your silhouette
Afshan Khan. Pic/Sneha Kharabe
Afshan Khan, says jewellery designer Shaheen Abbas, works intelligently with fabric and colour to match your body type so you end up looking your best. She tends to pick peach, pistachio and other pastels when working with fluid fabrics, and midnight blue, teal or green when planning A-line and straight fits. "Tell her what you want and it's done," says Abbas. "Afshan is good with finish, and trustworthy when planning both, Indian and Western wear. I love her jumpsuits and maxis. They are perfect if you are looking to stitch something to lounge around in, or plan a few clothes for travel." Khan also takes up Indian festive orders.
Estimated delivery time: 7-10 days
Price: Rs 1,500 onwards (tailoring)
At: Benzer Apartments, near Gulmohar Gardens, Yari Road, Versova
Call: 9820152051
Malini Shah (Rina's Creations)
For: Bridal lehengas, contemporary Indian wear
Malini Shah. Pic/Tanvi Phondekar
Manini Shah's bridal lehengas and gowns are contemporary in design, and sport flawless handwork. "She works with you to deliver what you have in mind. I usually wear Western outfits and was apprehensive about getting an Indian ensemble made for a friend's wedding, but what she crafted was well cut. The handwork on it was beautiful," says wedding photographer Karen Lisa about the turquoise cigarette pants and bustier with a golden lace cape.
Estimated delivery time: 7-10 days
Price: Rs 5000 onwards (tailoring and fabric)
At: Studio 17, Vaishali Shopping Center, VM Road, Vile Parle West
Call: 7045659096
Govinda Mehta (Raisson D Etre)
For: Tuxedos, sherwanis and bandhgalas in a hurry
Govinda Mehta of Excel Garments. Pic/Datta Kumbhar
Govinda Mehta has a unique approach to colour and surface treatment. "Govinda's sharp cuts makes a man look astute," says Youtuber and actor Freishia Bomanbehram. "His designs work for the modern groom who doesn't insist on wearing ethnicity on his sleeve. I remember a friend decided to get married on an impulse. He was flying out in three days and Govinda nailed the band-gala in the first fitting."
Estimated delivery time: 7-10 days
Price: Rs 1,500 onwards (tailoring)
At: Excel Garments, Veer Nariman Marg, Prabhadevi
Call: 9820154911
Perveez Aggarwal
For: Sarees and blouses, jackets and stoles with gara embroidery
Parveez Agarwal. Pic/Suresh Karkera
There are only a handful of individuals propogating the tradition of Parsi embroidery or gara, and Aggarwal is one of them. She, like the rest of her colleagues, is keen to give the ancient craft inspired by Chinese embroidery, a contemporary spin to make it relevant to the young buyer. "Her focus is on giving a modern twist to the intricate work that was originally seen on sarees passed down as heirlooms," says veteran journalist Sathya Saran.
Interestingly, most of her clients belong outside the Parsi community, and are keen fans of the traditional designs associted with the craft. Aggarwal's personal favourites are the chakla-chakli (birds), peacock and foliage designs. "I had once seen a design that featured a man wearing a dinner jacket and a woman in a gown. Unusual vintage. I regret not picking it up." Aggarwal started the business by accident. During the 1993 Mumbai riots following the the serial bomb blasts, a few karigars from the basti around her home jumped the wall to find refuge. "When things got calmer, one thanked me and asked for a job. The only thing he knew was embroidery," she remembers. "I asked him to replicate one of my grandmother's gara designs, and he did a flawless job. That's how this venture started."
Estimated deliverey time: 15 days
Price: Rs 10,000 onwards (fabric and embroidery)
At: Raheja Chambers, Nariman Point
Call: 40509335
Tasneem Merchant
For: Draped/stitched sarees, gowns and customised service
Tasneem Merchant with assistants Pranali More and Sunita Gupta at her studio, Myriad Hues. Pic/Tanvi Phondekar
A lecturer at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Tasneem Merchant has a knack for understanding body types and creating garments that make the ladies feel confident. "Every design is unique and attention is given to detail. Go to her for personalised service," says former actor Aditi Govitrikar.
Estimated delivery time: 7-10 days
Price: Rs 5000 onwards (tailoring and fabric)
At: Myriad Hues, opposite Brand Factory, Haji Ali
Call: 9820909655
Chelsya And Lillian Wemyss (Elle Creations Design Studio)
For: Catholic bridal gowns, Indo-Western wear with neat cuts
Lillian Wemyss at work at the Elle Creations Design Studio in Borivli. Pic/Tanvi Phondekar
Chelsya and Lillian Wemyss are well known in the Catholic bridal fashion market, but those looking for evening wear are also drawn to the duo. They will even make you an interesting Indo-western lehenga. The cuts are clean and they add a touch of detail. If you are looking for impeccable finish, look no more. Chelsya says feathers and tassles are new favourites for Catholic brides, as is the use of fuschia and nude pink net.
Estimated delivery time: 7-10 days
Price: Rs 8000 onwards (tailoring and fabric)
At: Shop No. 3, Divine Crest, DP Road, IC Colony, Borivli West
Call: 9821572979
Poonam Pamnani (The Stitching Place)
For: Kurtas, zardozi embroidery
Poonam Pamnani with assistant Netai Manna at her studio, The Stitching Place. Pic/Tanvi Phondekar
Zardozi embroidery is Poonam Pamnani's forte, and she will make you a stunning ghagra choli, saree blouse or salwar kameez without a bother. "She's quick and most of the time, I know that the outfit will sit snug in the first fitting. She's good at nailing the design you have in mind," says Bomanbehram. Go to her for crop tops with stone embellishment, kalidar kurtas with gota work and stitched sarees. She'll make an original design, or remake something you show her from a magazine or book.
Estimated delivery time: 7-10 days
Price: Rs 1,500 onwards (tailoring)
At: Indrajit Building, Block A, 17th Road, Santacruz West
Call: 9920522535
Perviz Dordi
For: Indian and Western formals, especially hand-done sarees
Pervin Dordi and daughter Diana. Pic/Tanvi Phondekar
Perviz Dordi had a job at a bank but her heart lay in fashion. A simple tailoring course, and perseveranace saw her grow into one of South Mumbai's go-to lady if you wanted to get an exquisite hand-done saree or blouse made. Age has caught up with her, but not enough to keep her away from the workshop. Her daughter Diana now runs the show, and meets clients only by appointment. "She'd call you for fittings and wouldn't deliver unless the clothes got her stamp of approval," Saran remembers. Diana now specialises in sarees and blouses, Western tops, all with lace, pearl and sequinned work. Diana learned the craft at Sophiya Polytechnic, but says nothing teaches you like watching an expert. "The perk of being her daughter was that I got to wear exquisitely embroidered party dresses," Diana says of Perviz. Her neighbours would want a similar piece, and that's how the business grew.
Estimated delivery time: 6-7 days
Price range: R1,000 onwards (tailoring)
At: Block 16, 4th Floor, Rustom Bagh, Byculla.
Call: 23718041
Smart And Hollywood
For: Tailored, embroidered womenswear
Nafees Ali Ahmed (left) with Main Master of Tailor Imthiyaz Ahmed at then Smart and Hollywood, in Kala Ghoda. Pic/Suresh Karkera
The quirky name of this South Mumbai tailoring establishment refers to the merger between two of pre-Independence Mumbai's famed tailors, Smart & Co. and Hollywood Tailors. This was in 1942, says Mumtaz Ahmed Shaikh, co-owner. The exclusive handwork, which the owners outsource to local craftsmen, leads to beautiful results. Saran says, "It used to be our go-to place to get dressy kurtas and long, flowy maxis stitched." They promise to replicate any design you give them.
Estimated delivery time: 6-7 days
Price: R1,000 onwards (tailoring)
At: Esplanade Mansion, Kala Ghoda
Call: 22843099
'This one is as old as the hills. It used to be our go-to place for dressy kurtas and flowy maxis. The experience of the karigars is evident in the work'
Sathya Saran, veteran fashion journalist
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