You wouldn’t expect such exquisite treasures to be tucked away in a nondescript home in a quiet lane in Tyagaraja Nagar. Even when you enter the store, the neatly organised saris on shiny hangers don’t reveal what you can find if you truly seek out something rare, with patience, and time on hand.
That’s Mithila for you. And that quality also characterises Mythili Ashok, an avid connoisseur and collector of fabrics and saris.
You probably won’t find as much variety in a store curated by one woman, and that too with a good representation from all parts of India. “I’m a shopaholic,” declares the cherubic Mythili. “And honestly, it got to the point where I didn’t have space to keep the stuff I bought. So I started this store!” For many years now, Mythili’s friends and relatives have banked on her to pick up that perfect sari for them, for occasions, specially weddings.
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As Mythili pulls out sari after sari, you can gush over the bright Andhra khadis with silk borders, Benaras saris with discharge prints, brocades, tissues, tussars from Vidarbha, mekhela chadors from Assam, kota leherias from Rajasthan, Kanchivarams and Kalamkaris.
“I source all saris from master craftsmen and weavers who have been doing this for generations,” reiterates Mythili.
Benaras seems to have a soft corner in Mythili’s heart, and all sorts of weaves are tucked away in the wooden cupboards and drawers in the store’s inner rooms — beige and gold mooga tussars from Benaras steal the show, as do the kataan Benaras silks, Benaras silk with kadwa work, pure zari kota Benaras, and so on the varieties go.
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You will find yourself reaching out as much for the fuschias, turquoise blues, hot oranges, greens and pinks, as much as you will for the burnished rose golds, whites, and creams — the colour palette is also quite tantalising.
Patolas, chanderis, Dhakais, ikkats, bandihnis, gota-pattis, paper weaves — in stunning colour combinations. Jute linens, Telia Rumals, Bhagalpur tussars, Uppadas, dabu prints, fine filature saris with vegetable-dyed Kalamkari that almost have a filigree texture, colour blocked saris, shibori on tussar…Mithila really spoils you with a baffling diversity of weaves. Inspired by her reading of Tagore from her college days, she’s added delicate lace borders to Dhakais to recreate the Bengal look.
There’s an equally eclectic range of shawls, stoles, and dupattas, and a small range of accessories like clutches, bangles, and neckpieces.
Cotton saris start at Rs. 1,000 and stoles and accessories at Rs. 1,000. The silk saris go up to Rs. 25,000.
Mithila is at #3364,13 th Cross, 2nd Main, Shastri Nagar, T.R Nagar Post, K.R Road. It’s open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Contact 26763128.