Just a click Away
Simply Hyderabad puts together a list of cool e-stores featuring chic fashion and trendy buys.
Ancient living
"Anything traditionally good that our ancestors used is worth reviving,” says Kalyani Gongi, 40, whose store Ancient Living is all about wellness products that are infused with the benefits of Ayurveda. Besides skincare products made with natural ingredients—lavender and oatmeal or an avocado and basil blend—find a range of earthen utensils and brass water bottles that are great for health. “We have recently also introduced native games like ashta chamma and pachisi, which were once a part of our culture and relevant even today, since they are strategy games like chess, that are great for sharpening mind skills,” says Gongi. ancientliving.in
Color D Earth
From traditional jhumkas in vivid shades to neckpieces made in trendy designs, there can be immense possibilities for jewellery crafted from terracotta, and Color D Earth shows you how. Sourced from across India, “these artisan-crafted pieces are perfect to be paired with Western wear and Kanjeevaram saris alike,” says Hema Balakrishnan, 43, whose passion for an eco-friendly lifestyle led her to start Color D Earth as a small kiosk in 2011, which has evolved over the years into an eco-socio venture. colordearth.com
Good Seeds
The benefits of adopting an organic diet are immense and at Good Seeds the choices available for organic and healthy foods are aplenty. Everything you find here is fully natural and grown on chemical-free farms. Opt for palm sugar instead of refined white sugar or cook with wholesome millets or unprocessed substitutes for grains. Apart from cereals, vegetables and ready-to-eat products, browse through their range of eco-friendly home cleansers and incense or room fresheners. goodseeds.in
Leanspoon
The need for regulating their diet and eating healthy in the midst of a stressful corporate lifestyle led Gopi Lingala, 36 and Saneesha Rao, 29 to give up cushy jobs and start Leanspoon a year ago. With healthy options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, subscribers can choose between homestyle Indian food or exotic delights derived from Asian or even south American cuisines. “We also help clients with nutrition and lifestyle advice, offering portion controlled food that is as tasty as it is healthy,” says Lingala. leanspoon.com
Pink Cupcakes
A football sitting on a cake for an arsenal fan or a whole kitchen recreated with icing, and film posters with sugary popcorn for a movie buff ’s birthday; Reema Vohra’s themed cakes are often lovely surprises, nothing short of artsy. “The quirkiest of themes bring out the best of my creativity,” says the 32-year-old former corporate professional who took up baking after an impromptu course in Malaysia. Five years later, crafting elaborate cakes is an everyday affair in her home kitchen. “All I need to know is a person’s personality or passions. To see that recreated on their birthday or anniversary cake can truly make the occasion special,” says Vohra. bakingwithpink.in
Cake Craft
Social entrepreneur Kamalkanta Naik, 24, took his culinary passion a tad further than simply cooking for himself and friends, to recently start Cake Craft. Order one of their ready to pick cakes or have one custom-made if there’s a specific flavour you have in mind. What’s more, their soon to be launched app, Easy Celebration, will keep details
of birthdays and anniversaries of your family. “Even if you happen to forget your spouse’s birthday, we would still send a cake on your behalf,” says Naik, adding that the same can be done with birthdays of employees with Cake Craft’s corporate clients. facebook.com/cakecrafthyd
Exotic Blooming Teas
Over her extensive travels, international badminton champ and owner Exotic Blooming Teas, Neelima Chowdary, 39, took to tea with a keen passion after having sampled several exotic varieties. Chamomile for de-stressing, lavender for relaxed sleep or peppermint for mood-lifting, “tea can indeed be magically healing,” says Chowdary who started to source teas from across the world about a year ago. “While there are hundreds of varieties, Indians tend to like teas that are on the sweeter side, like berry green tea, rather than the more pungent flavours,” she says, showing around the little tea room at her home where clients can sample the tea that they would like to buy. Besides hot brews, there are also a number of iced tea varieties to pick from, including the Asian-inspired pearl tea. facebook.com/bloomingteas
The One Shop
The One Shop is literally a one-stop destination for all your gifting needs—from wedding gifts, birthday return gifts to house warming gifts, there's something for everyone. Their products include Indian ethnic handicrafts, jewellery cases and silver ware. Besides this, they also have an array of gift bags—from fancy brocade pouches to elegantly embroidered holders with drawstrings and classy printed cotton bags. theoneshop.in
Peace Lily
A glass planter with a small succulent can make for an interesting accessory; pick terrariums, miniature gardens and little plants in lanterns at Peace Lily. Crafted with pebbles and tiny figurines, these little artworks are ideal to pep up any space and make for cool tabletop accessories, which often turn into conversation starters. facebook.com/Peacelilyindia
I Love Being Hyderabadi
If you are a true-blue Hyderabadi who loves the unique humour of the Deccani Hindi-Urdu spoken at Hyderabad, you cannot miss the funky wall art, coffee mugs, T-shirts and tabletop accessories at I love Being Hyderabadi. Syed Saif, 28, designs products with Hyderbadi themes, featuring graffiti such as, ‘Lite le baap’ and ‘Sab bolo lekin subha jaldi utho nakko bolo’. These products are indeed about a distinct Hyderabadi attitude. beinghyderabadi.in
Hoozinc
Anything you pick at Hoozinc is out of the box if not with an outright funny twist to it, like old time ironing press shaped ashtrays or notebooks with witty messages. “But our recent favourites are certificates that state words like ‘nalayak’ or ‘bhukkad’ and other such qualifiers that people typically have for their friends, making for perfect add-ons to gifts,” says Chandni Sakurikar, 27, who started the store with partner Nikhil Kapur, 28. Besides these, browse through official merchandise of Friends, Big Bang Theory, Sherlock and even Baahubali. Take a pick from badges and coasters or phone cases featuring graphics and sketches from scenes of the epic blockbuster. hoozinc.com
My Dream Store
There are portals aplenty for buying T-shirts but former financial analyst Karthik Venkat, 27, with partner, Bala Satish, 28, started an enterprise that enables you to design and sell T-shirts, hoodies and tank tops of your own. Three years after its launch, My Dream Store has more than 400 active sellers who create designs and market them here, with the manufacturing and logistics handled in-house. “The products are manufactured when people pre-order your design in the sizes of their choice,” explains Venkat, adding that they have recently added mobile cases and tote bags to the inventory and will soon introduce accessories and jewellery as well. Mydreamstore.in
Just Pretty Things
Take your style quotient a few notches up with a plethora of chic accessories from Just Pretty Things that Anjula Merani, 34, started two years ago and had investors invest thereafter. Stonestudded jewellery in unusual combinations or trendy chokers and bracelets are perfect accompaniments to glam up an outfit. Their range of sunglasses are worth going a bit overboard with your style statement. “All our accessories have a youthful contemporary edge to bring out the diva in you,” says Merani, who was formerly a jewellery designer. justprettythings.com