Ready for retail | Cover Story

With Dasain just around the corner, any smart shopper knows that stretching that bonus and tika money to its maximum potential is only a matter of planning. WAVE brings you a guide of what to buy and where to buy it:

If you're brand conscious and money's not a problem…
If misspelled labels from Khasa bajar just won't cut it, and your faith in quality justifies paying for sakkali items, shops like Labels, Benetton, and Reebok are where it's at.

Nepal's newest sporting hero Rajendra Bhandari is Reebok's brand ambassador, and judging from his two SAG golds there is something in going the extra mile—or extra few thousand rupees—for shoes from the Reebok showrooms. Owner Prabhat Saraaf attributes the difference in quality to the 'technology' that goes into authentic Reebok gear, such as Dynamic Maximum Cushioning (DMX) or Hexalight. "For Dasain, we'll have Play Dry's new series and winter collections," Saraaf says. Prices are between Rs 2,290 and Rs 13,900.

If you're more of an Adidas aficionado, you'd best head to a Roots Fashion outlet. They're also the authorised dealer for brands like Wrangler, Dr Marten, Levi's and Lee. Rajiv Shrestha of Roots Fashion also suggests their Climacool/ Climawarm/ Climaproof ranges, specially designed to suit different seasons and temperatures.

High-quality colour could come in the form of a Benetton t-shirt. These range from Rs 800 to Rs 3000, and floor manager Neeru Shrestha assures us, "We'll have new arrivals for Dasain; a new look and new fabric."

T-shirts are also big at Bossini, with men's styles priced at under Rs 800, and women's from Rs 600 to Rs 1,450. Managing Director Jayendra Shrestha claims, "Our products are comparatively cheaper, about 20-25 percent less, than other brands." They're also big on variety, with about 900 designs instore on average.

Increasingly, it's not just logos on the outside that count. Sanjay Agrawal of Puja Overseas, the dealer for undergarments from Jockey, Crocodile, Lovable, and Juliet, says, "More people prefer branded undergarments primarily because of the comfort factor." Lingerie from Juliet is stylish and relatively affordable—bras range from Rs 95 to Rs 470, and nightwear starts at Rs 1,000. Likewise, underwear from Jockey ranges from Rs 130 to Rs 395. For more options, there are also selections at designer lingerie boutiques like Plums and Femilines.

If you're thinking trendy but affordable…
If you've decided that fashion on a budget outweighs branded cool, outfits from stores like UFO, Together and Angel Face will give you more bang for your buck.

"For Dasain, we'll have almost everything in new," says Dinesh Shrestha, managing director of Together. They're also offering hefty discounts, and if you're not into store-hopping, Together is good for complete ensembles—with shoes ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000, jeans for Rs 600 to Rs 1,400, and shirts between Rs 450 and Rs 750.

Angel Face is also looking to bring in fresh products for Dasain, mainly from Hong Kong and Korea. Proprietor Satyam Manandhar says that currently Arabic-influenced styles are in for women, with the hip-hop look still going strong for guys. Angel Face also stocks a variety of beaded shoes, which will set you back between Rs 645 and Rs 1,100.

And finally, with 12 showrooms around the country, the UFO invasion continues in Pokhara, Narayanghat, Birgunj and the capital. "We'll have around 90 percent new arrivals for Dasain also targeting winter," says Bijay Manandhar, UFO's senior executive. The female of the species fares well at UFO, with current fashion picks being cardigans, halter-neck tops and beaded kurthas.

If you're the ultimate bargain hunter…
Shopping in the markets and at footpath stalls takes patience, but with a good eye you can find unique designs as well as close approximations of branded goods. Khasa Bajar, the Basantapur night market and the maze of shops at Sundhara all offer plenty to pick and choose from, including colourful cotton tops, bejewelled and beaded sandals and plenty of budget accessories like bags and chandelier earrings. Some of the footpath vendors even offer factory seconds from international brands such as Next, Banana Republic and Morgan. All you need is a keen eye for what works.

Dasain discount lowdown
UFO—Five percent off on every item, starting mid-September until Laxmi Puja
Bossini—Ten percent off on every item for 15-20 days, starting on 23 September (Ghatasthapana)
Angel Face/Angelo—Twelve to 15 percent off on garments (not accessories) from mid-September until Bijaya Dashami
Benetton—Ten percent off on every item for three to five days following Fulpaati
Together—Ten percent off on every item (excluding undergarments) from 23 September until Tihar
Reebok—Up to 10 percent off at all showrooms, starting mid-September for 15 days
Adidas—10 percent off on every item (excluding accessories) starting 16 September until Bijaya Dashami