It's time for

...some retail therapy!

Presenting to you today, three distinctive online stores from India, all three conceptualized and run by brilliant young women. I really admire their creative vision and entrepreneurial zeal, and love how their online ventures are shaping up. Each store has a unique personality, and collectively they are a virtual shopping paradise! Take a look at my pick of favorites from each online store..

Shopo

Shopo is bright, kitchy, fun and hugely inspiring - just like it's co-founder Krithika Nelson. Krithika and Theyagarajan set up Shopo on lines of an Indian marketplace. It provides designers from India a platform to take their products online, and us buyers a chance to buy beautifully handcrafted, unique products from all parts of the country. I love how each designer selling via Shopo gets the opportunity to share his/her profile - a way to stand out in a sea of beautiful products!

Kanika's Anek Designs, a perennial favorite

Vineeta's legendary decoupaged trays and boxes from ArtnLight

Gorgeous shibori fabric products from Sarah's Umoya

Journals galore in Kavya's Kaagazi

Studio a* by Shivani

Afday

Afday [Art For Every Day], is Rashmi Daga's online baby. With the firm belief that 'art' is present in every day and every small little thing, Rashmi set up this online store, where she curates carefully selected handmade works of professional and amateur designers. Afday is the perfect source for fresh off-the-oven designs and products. Some of my current favorites are:   

Man series cushion cover and Sculptural fabric clock

Hand embroidered cushion cover in tussar silk and Ikat lampshade

Bunting ipad cover and ceramic autorickshaw

Banana fibre bag and Picture postcard place mats

Afday has a special discount code for you! An Indian Summer readers can get a 10% discount on any item they shop from Afday by using the code indiansummer10. And if you shop for more than INR 2000, you'll also get a surprise gift!

Pret-Amoda

Pret-Amoda is an online destination for exclusive fashion and accessories from established and emerging designers from India. A play on French and Italian words meaning 'ready to fashion' – the name Pret-Amoda captures the essence of what Ritika Walia, it's founder, envisioned the store to be. Ritika leveraged her experience in luxury fashion merchandising in the UK and in India, and set up Pret-Amoda as an exclusive retail channel, easily accessible for shoppers of Indian inspired fashion from around the world. While I eagerly await new additions to their home decor segment, here is my wish list from their current selection:

Mike Knowles pop print and Cushion from Abraham & Thakore

From Aka Nu Deli studio and Mustard clutch

Breathing Space by Eina Ahluwalia and Lotus Sutra

Dresses by Divya Anand and Gaurav Jai Gupta

[All images copyrighted to respective store owners and designers]

And if you still haven't had enough of retail therapy, come back tomorrow morning (morning India time that is).
I'll announce Announced the winner of a dress from Shabby Apple here! Go check!