Shopping safari

Kahawa, a city design store is calling all the ladies to come and drop anchor at their store where they can shop, talk and plan a stylish makeover

Coffee seems to be an integral part of Kahawa, a design store located in the heart of Bangalore. For, not only is a coffee shop attached to the store cheek-by-jowl but even the name Kahawa is actually Swahili for Coffee.

Stop by to browse through gallery owner, Nishi Rehman's collections of quirky African footwear, mirrors, masks, watch straps, belts and wooden crockery outsourced by Kenya-based designer Azu to resort style kaftans and kurtis to heavy-duty zardozi work Lucknowi sarees to some funky knick knacks and pottery from Auroville, there is a lot to fill your shopping bag with.
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Rehman, who started this store way back in 2002, wanted to give an opportunity to under privileged, non-profit and upcoming designers a chance to showcase their creations and products under one roof.
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The good thing about Kahawa is that there is something that fits everyone's budget. The prices start from as low as Rs 15 and go up to Rs 25,000.

Rehman will be introducing two newbie designers: Mumbai-based Sheetal Mirchandani with her collection of embroidered kurtis and tunics and Nida Faud with her bling-laden flats and heels and floaty kaftans.
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But what will catch your eye the most at this store is of course theu00a0u00a0 footwear and other accessories from Africa, outsourced by Azu. These also make for unusual gifts for your best friends or even yourself.

And if you're dropping by today, you might be lucky to meet 85-year-old Hazra Mohammad, who will be in the store to sign copies of her book Hazra's Recipes For Life between 1 pm and 3 pm and 5 pm and 7 pm.
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The book is a treasure trove of biryanis, gravies, kababs, seafood and desserts belonging to the Cutchi Memon style of Muslim cooking, a dying culinary tradition.

At Kahawa: Gallery for Design, Cunningham Road. Call 4151 0488u00a0u00a0
On from July 15 to 18, 11 am to 8 pm

Kaftans
Glamorous and breezy, these resort-inspired georgette kaftans designed by Nida Fuad come with rhinestones and beaded necklines and will put the glam back into your life.
Rs 3,000 onwards

Salad Spoons
African wooden spoons made out of olive wood with beaded or carved handles.
Rs 595 onwards

Masai Bracelets
Bracelets made of strings of coloured beads with delicate bone button details.
Rs 500 onwards

Newsprint Earrings
Auroville-based Well Paper products takes ordinary newspapers and turns them into funky earrings, necklaces, brooches, hair clips, belts and bangles.
Rs 90

African Flats
These leather flats come with colourful beaded embroidery and are inspired by elaborate Masai neck pieces and headgear
Rs 2,200

Kamasutra Jewellery
Big chunky semi precious stones, sandalwood beads and corals form designer Divya Thomas's statement neckpieces.u00a0
Rs 8,000 onwards

Leather Cross Body Bags
Silver studded and embossed cross body bags in yellows, red, tans, blacks and greens from Chennai-based Terra.
Rs 12,000