What you see - Owned by Meher Vaseer, Papaji’s is an exclusive designer studio at Koregaon Park. It has been named after her father-in-law fondly called as Papaji by everybody. This striking exclusive store stands out for its unique name and Indian collection amidst the western wear dominated stores on the road. Done up in the bridal red color, be it the carpets, wall hangings, bean bags or the stools, the décor spells out the core essence of the store. The window display is eye-catching too.

 

What you get – Papaji’s in Pune is neatly segregated into various sections of salwar kameez, ghaghra cholis, corsets, designer blouses and exquisite sarees of the slightly heavy kind in silk, georgette, crepe, velvet, chiffon etc and unstitched fabric. They also have a limited collection of contemporary western wear.

 

To begin with their salwar kameez collection has a contemporary and a traditional mix. They have also come up with their own designs which are the signature style of the store. Their men’s wear inspired Sherwani-cut salwar kameez are absolutely wonderful. We found a magnificent piece in royal blue (Rs. 9,500) encrusted with stones, pearls, shells, and sequins, teamed with raw silk pants and a stole. Long and unusually short Anarkalis are available here with absolutely interesting contrasts. MetroMela especially loved a short Anarkali with an attached jacket and straight pants for Rs. 13,500 as well as a black one with transparent sleeves. In contemporary wear they have halter and spaghetti suits with asymmetrical lines.

 

In ghaghra cholis they have a wide range which begins from Rs. 4,000. They have traditional maroon wedding ghaghras with intricate authentic zardosi work commonly used during the pheras. And if you are little experimental they also have these in pastel shades like pink and green with crystal and stone work and different cuts. Corsets and skirts for the Indo-Western look are there too.

 

Last but not the least is their beautiful collection of sarees. They have imitations of various designers like Satya Paul and signature patched brocade work of Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Their best selling items are net sarees in colors like pista green with roses on them. For smaller functions or dinners they have pastel sarees in lemon with organza patches or soothing peach sarees with silver work and peach drops. MetroMela especially loved the Sabyasachi copy saree in bottle green with Banarasi brocade patches and readymade pleats. The work on it was an amalgamation of stones, kasap and zardosi. When the saree is heavy they try to make the blouse light to wear with a knot in the back. Also readymade blouses and corsets which have heavy work of sequins on the back or front with fascinating designs and cuts are available here.

 

Our verdict – This studio is a must-stop because their collection is exclusive, unique and absolutely beautiful to suit every occasion. You could choose the clothes on display or get it specifically stitched to order as per the requirements. The artisans are mainly from Bombay who handcraft the artistic exquisite work. Tailoring and embroidery orders are undertaken here. Clothes in sizes up to XXXL can be made here. Staff is friendly and informative. They also have a studio in Aundh. Parking space is available on Koregaon Park road.

Anytime between - 11.30 AM – 9 PM