Our first trip to India and we will be in Mumbai at the end of our trip prior to Xmas for 3 nights and would be happy to get advice on shops.Been reading the thread for Delhi and know some of you have the ' inside running ' on it. We will be looking for old / antique items / objet, good quality casual clothing with an edge and just intersting shops . We only have a day in Delhi so most shopping will be in Mumbai unless we shop in Goa . Hobbes , if you are reading this we took your advice , thank you and got a booking at The Nilaya Hermitage for 3 nights and the Leela Palace for 3 nights .Siolim House was booked out . So any Goa shopping tips will be gratefully received .We leave on the 11th .

Tip: Goa is not particularly known for its shopping, if you are looking for more than Goan handicrafts and local products such as cashewnuts etc. Clothes, rugs, jewelry and all the usual tourist trappings are best purchased in Mumbai.

Goa has a couple of interesting boutiques. Camelot carries a great range of Indian designers' clothes and also has lifestyle products. In Nilaya itself Sangolda has some gorgeous stuff - pricey tho. ducts and furnture. A Goan designer, Wendell Rodericks may fit the b ill for the clothing you describe - look him up on his website, www.wendellrodricks.com/retail.htm - I love his stuff.

Did I suggest you split your stay between 2 South Goa properties - I think it maybe more likely I said 1 north Goa and 1 South Goa property. Anyway, Nilaya and the Leela are very different so think you will be OK. Or maybe I said something about seeing how many days you get at Nilaya - don't remember...

Do go to the Taj Exotica for a meal - tho be aware, distances in Goa take a while to traverse.

Where are u staying in Bombay?

Yes, you suggested North and South, and originally we were trying for Siolim House and then the Leela. As it happens Siolim was booked out and the Nilaya could only do three nights, so there we are. But the Nilaya looks great, so many thanks for your tip. The Leela was just Plan B. In Mumbai we had several options but didn't really want to splurge so have booked Gordon House Hotel. Looks OK - have you been there? P

Been there, seen the rooms - Gordon House. Decent VFM and good location. U are walking distance from Cottage Industries, a great shopping option, not as big as Delhi cottage but still worth a look. Also do go to FabIndia and WestSide in KalaGhoda again quite near you. Great music store also in Kala Ghoda, Rhythm House. In Colaba near the vegetable market are some great silver shops where locals shop, the ones near your hotel are tourist oriented. Another great shop for casual 100% cotton clothes again very near you is Cotton World. A designer boutique I love near Kala Ghoda is Ensemble. A FABULOS antique shop near your hotel again on the Regal circle, walkable is Philips Antiques - genuine stuff, interesting collection.

For excellent shopping in the old-antique items as well as cool clothes category, you can't beat Colaba Causeway. Great shopping is to be had right on the street and the adjacent stores, but you must bargain hard - they will start at 100% markup from the local price. For high-quality but reasonably priced clothing and home furnishings, visit FAB INDIA - there are many branches but the most convenient is in Kala Ghoda. Here you will find only organic materials and native craftsmanship. WESTSIDE is a dept. store just across the street that also has nice things, albeit a bit more commercial. Both shops are conveniently arrayed in "western" style - that is, clothing is displayed so you can browse, unlike many Indian shops where you have to request them to pull things off a shelf behind a counter. Enjoy, and there are more Mumbai tips at my websites -
www.sirensongs.blogspot.com
and
www.trekshare.com/members/sirensongs

Thank you all for great suggestions. P