5 Ways To Save Money On Fancy Indian Clothes
- raj desai | may 15, 2023
Looking to save on your next lehenga, sari, or suit? Here are 5 surefire ways to do it.
For as many South Asian stores and designers we have access to these days, you’d think it’d be easier to buy high-quality, well-designed clothes for affordable prices.
To some extent, it is! But fancy South Asian wear is always going to be expensive. Especially designs that have classic silhouettes, are made from high-quality materials, and have long-lasting embroidery and work on it.
I’m of the mindset that if you can shave dollars off of your next South Asian formal wear purchase, then you should! And I’ve been lurking around South Asian fashion websites long enough to tell you exactly how to do it.
Rent
If you’re the type of person that never likes to repeat an outfit, then renting is for you. If you rarely have the opportunity to rewear formal South Asian wear, then renting is for you. If you care about the environmental impact of fashion, then renting is for you!
Yes, there are lots of reasons to rent. But number 1 for so many of us: it’s affordable! Best of all, there are currently 13 South Asian rental services for you to pick from.
Mix n' Match
Not happy about the idea of purchasing an entire new outfit? Just buy part of one. Maybe a plain blouse or skirt from The Saree Room. Or create an Indowestern outfit from scratch by styling South Asian pieces with western ones, like this Masaba lehenga set ($364 from Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop).
Shop secondhand
Another smart way to save on South Asian wear? Buy secondhand. Browse countless Facebook groups (like the Little Brown Diary or local Desi groups), or use services like Desi Thrift.
Shop sales
Black Friday isn’t just good for upgrading your TV, it’s also an excellent time to shop South Asian sales from stores like Chandan Fashion in Toronto.
There are also several stores and designers that have sales year-round, like Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, Peace Lily, Luxie Couture, Kalki Fashion, and more.
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Wear affordable designers
Sometimes finding the best-priced outfit is as simple as knowing where to shop.
Basanti Kapde Aur Koffee has great fashion for affordable pricing (I just wore this peach sharara to a destination wedding). Lashkaraa is also a popular choice. House of Indya is another that lots of people shop from.
And then you can always turn to more affordable brands from online marketplaces like Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop (Baise Gaba, Paulmi & Harsh, Masaba, and Pomcha Jaipur).
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