Mumbai markets—a colourful narrative woven around the tales of experience and inspiration– fetch intriguing product design discoveries. A city of dreams, or a city that never sleeps; multiple anecdotes circulate the charm of this metropolitan, but the one that is reminisced often is its commendation for markets. The growth of flea markets and bazaars has surged in popularity, so much so that this nomenclature now sounds like home.
A widespread credence that the visitors would imply is its dedication to all things design. The film industry accentuates the surge of garment manufacturing, while its commercial influx prompts a significant demand for exclusivity in product design and architectural studios. The treasure trove of scalable markets does just the right trick to send designers on an expedition for unique products.
Below is our pick of the city’s most popular and recommended markets, catering to its intricate objets d’art.
Crawford Market
Originating in the late 19th century, the Crawford Market is a monumental landmark set in the heart of Fort, Mumbai. Several alleys cater to various segments of product design, with the Lohar Chawl witnessing home decor collections, ancestral heirlooms, and distinctive earthenware.
Creators include emergent artisans, local vendors, and Indian handicrafters, emphasising vintage craft, upholstery, dinnerware, and decorative furnishings. While the bazaar witnesses millions of shoppers daily, its Victorian-Gothic architecture also establishes Crawford Market as a major tourist destination.
Dharavi Market
Predominantly existing as a residential colony for Mumbai’s working class, the Dharavi market has transitioned into a pitstop for all materials utilized in product design. From being Asia’s largest slum to a fully functional economic and e-commerce hub, this market serves as a recreational playground for upcoming traders and creators to showcase their qualitative items like leather handbags, belts, accessories, textiles, etc.
Fueled by a strenuous effort to be discovered, the artisans procure products organically with sustainability as the focal index, specialising in leather materialisations, upscaling plastics, and recycling non-degradable objects.
Colaba-Causeway Market
A classic delineation of the “Bombay” aesthetic at its best resides by the streets of the Colaba-Causeway market. By the esteemed Mondegar and Leopold cafes, this market reserves a cosy abode for its idiosyncratic timepieces. Revolving majorly around decor and fashion, designers tour for bargainable antique products like pocket watches, mariner’s compasses, miniature clocks, oxidised jewellery, Kolhapuri sandals, traditional apparel etc.
The market is at a walkable distance from destinations like the Taj Mahal Palace, Kala-Ghoda, the Gateway of India, and Nariman Point. Thereby simultaneously hosting numerous upmarket brands and luxury stores, attracting many travellers, both local and international.
Dadar Phool Market (Flower Market)
Mumbai’s overwhelming stack of product designs is not limited to textiles, fabrics, or metals. A core element in perishable manufacturing, organic materials such as florals are at large trade at the Dadar Flower market. Small-scale businesses like potpourri, resin mouldings, decorative floral crafts, olfactory production, and cosmological laboratories encourage the evolution of these organic resources with increasing inundation in supply and demand.
Floral industries in this market flourish greatly through local vendors, hawkers, and boutiques to provide for every price range. Owing to the country’s vast agricultural background and profound footing in plant-based businesses, this market blurs dictating boundaries of decor and has become a popular choice for interior design professionals.
Chor Bazaar
Tracing back to its pre-independence heritage, the Chor Bazaar, located a few kilometres from Crawford, is an iconographic aid for Mumbai’s design hub. Initially called “shor bazaar” by the Britishers, the place is a collector’s paradise paving the way for stolen and thrift goods. Although its literal name is no longer valid, the shopkeepers’ principles to procure vintage collectibles and counterfeit items remain the same.
Its historical trajectory recounts an illustrative tale of Indian history and ancestry, with some picks dating back centuries. Featuring the ‘old Bombay’ appeal, this collection often spots gramophones of yore, olden grandfather clocks, typewriters, globes, musical instruments, etc. Integral for the city’s designers, this flea bazaar ensconces millions of visitors annually, and thrifters are invited to forage at their own supervision.
Bandra Cane Market
Albeit a tad microscale in geographical terms, the cane market established in Bandra coalesces a blend of ecological and biodegradable design pieces. The mass production of these decor products using cane, bamboo, and rattan, frequently attracts buyers for their eco-friendly origins. This features mostly household items like furniture, ceiling lights and lamps, hand-woven baskets, etc.
The augmentation of organic manufacturing witnessed here contributes largely to sustainability and reducing carbon footprints.
Over its prehistoric discourse of witnessing major geopolitical and historical transitions, Mumbai’s revolutionary zest for art and design has never receded. Collectively, these flea bazaars have continued to assist small-scale commerces to flourish and multiply, attracting many creators from both India and abroad. The romantic notion of creation continues, ushering in striving individuals to be a part of this metropolitan’s design trajectory.
As ID 2024 prepares to launch in Mumbai, the event propounds an artistic platform for such narrative to inspire, connect, and promote the city’s constant dialogue with art and design. This is your chance to experience design at its best—both at the event and outside of it—by visiting these unique local markets. For the best in antiques, furniture and furnishing materials, home decor pieces, traditional craftsmanship and Indian-inspired products, stroll through these gullies where there’s something for everyone. And then come by to ID Mumbai, where you will find the best of product designs, bespoke collectibles, inspiring conversations, and the design community at large—all under one roof.
India Design ID Mumbai will take place from 27th to 29th September 2024, at Jio World Gardens, BKC.
