White Collar Job

When we first drove past Linen Club with its “Aditya Birla Group” logo, we got a whiff of corporate. And worse, Enrique Iglesias was queued up on the “showroom” soundtrack that day. We were ready to dismiss this new Bandra store completely, but our shopping companion insisted we give the place a chance. Twenty minutes later, we were baled over by this linen fabric and bespoke tailoring store. Here’s why:

4 Reasons to Walk the Line-n

1. For a Vacation Reminder: 1,800. That’s how many linen varieties they stock. From cool whites to embroidered, printed and silk varieties (start at Rs 700 per metre), you will be spoiled for choice. Be warned though, these airy fabrics can induce trippy visions; in ours we were dressed in a delicate dress, our beau in a leisure suit with matching fedora, sipping rum cocktails in Havana. Now if only we could get an air ticket to go with that bale.

2. So you don’t have to sweat the Mumbai heat: Even the slightly thicker, formal fabrics are well suited for summer, and would make for great jackets, regal sherwanis and suits to sport on muggy Mumbai nights.

3. Because a good tailor is hard to find: From the fabric you pick, Linen Club’s in-house tailor will stitch anything your heart desires (for Rs 500 and up). Alas, this service extends only to men. From their extensive and surprisingly hip in-house catalogue, we ordered a striped button down shirt with an unexpected hoodie (Rs 2,000), a crisp white apple cut kurta (Rs 1,900), and a double-breasted formal shirt (Rs 2,500). Next on our list: Orange and black two-toned Jodhpuris.

4. For free coffee: Store manager Pratham who looks all of 18 but is really in his late 20s (or so he says), is great at selling. His patience rarely wavers, not even when you spend an hour deciding between an Ascot and Gladstone collar. Best of all, he offers all his “guests” super well-made cappuccinos.

Ah Bale-amour. Oh wait, it was Bailamos. Ugggh.

Getting there: Linen Club, E95, Adrekar House, ground floor, 13th and 18th Road, next to Khar Gym, Khar (W), call 26489041, shut on Sundays.