the upmarket front

Saunter along Hazratganj and Aminabad or take a leisurely stroll of a Mahanagar and Kapoorthala area and you"ll realize that Lucknow's world of haute couture is no less dazzling than that of Delhi and Mumbai. Gone are the days when you'd come across people wearing locally stiched jeans to office. The present day office executives would instead go in for a pair of Allen Solly trousers and a Peter England shirt, both of which like several other brands are readily available here. The dress code at parties too has undergone a sea change, with more and more women donning designer jewelleries of Tanishq and Bentex.

City folks were certainly never so conscious of their selves than they are now. And why shouldn't they be. With one garment showroom after another opening in the city, fashion consciousness has touched a new height. Hazratganj alone boasts of no less than 20 swanky showrooms dealing exclusively with garments. Benetton, Modern Silk House, Kaysons, Bhasins, Saree Bhawan, Bombay Garments, Raymonds, Lamba & Lamba, Calcutta Instyle, Sales Depot, Suri Garments, Sugnamal Sarees, Khiamalsons, Sanskriti, Ramlal & Sons, they are all there--each one a paradigm of quality and style.
 

EMPORIUM:Emporiums of different states offer a wide range of goods for the discerning buyer. Drop in at the Gandhi Ashram in Hazratganj for silk sarees, chappals and herbal stuff or visit Kashmiri Emporium for gift items. The gangotri showroom too has a wonderful collection of knick knacks. Aminabad, Nazirabad and Hazratganj--all abound with shops dealing in chikan, footwear and imtation jewellery. An ideal gift would be'Ittar' (Indian Perfume)purchased either from Sugandhco in Habibullah Estate , Hazratganj or Azam Ali in Aminabad.

GANGOTRI: Gangotri has a wide array of tanchoi, jamdani and jamwar sarees. While a tanchoi ranges from Rs.6,000 to Rs.15,000, a Bnarasi silk saree may cost you anything between Rs.800 to Rs.3,5000. Besidesleather handbags, wallets and belts, it also a vast collection of semi-precious handicraft items andartefacts. Dinner and tea sets of Khurja pottery are also available here.

KASHMIRI EMPORIUM: From exquisitely carved walnut furniture and Kashmiri carpets to chain-stich wall-hanging and woolen chain stich carpets, the emporium has them all. Besides toosh, woolen and pashmina shawls, it also has a vast collection of silk sarees, scarves, jewellery boxes and other gift items.

GEMS AND JEWELS: In the footsteps of traditions handed down by preceding generations, City jewellers are nourishing a golden legasy is perhaps more brilliant than the glitter of gold and the sparkle of diamonds that they sell. Be it Aminabad, Chowk and Hazratganj or Mahanagar, Indira nagar and Gomti nagar, jewellery shop dazzle from almost every corner of the city.

GLITZ AND GIZMOS: The city has a vast repertoire of electronic goods and gadgets.While shops on both sides of La Touche Road offer a wide array of the Geysers, Fans, Desert Coolers and Fancy Lamp Shades, the bustling Amber Market in Naka Hindola is best suited for those who want to buy Tape Recorders, Video Games and Transistors. Telephone Instruments replete with unique features are also available here. For Washing Machines, Air Conditioners, Microwaves Oven, Television Sets, Refrigerators and home appliances there is no better place to shop than Hazratganj. You can either go to Fair Deal Agencies or Agencies to get good value for your money.

FANTASTIC FURNISHINGS:Enhance the decor of your house with some exquisite stuff available at the furnishing houses of the city. Raj Furnishing, Furnishing House, Sajawat all offer a wide range of awnings, drappery rods,towels, mattresses, pillows, upholstery items, bed covers and cushions. All major brands like a Raymonds, Harmony, Unitex, Bombay Dyeing, Welspun, Unifiber, Vista Levelor and Bajaj are available here.