If you are making a veil or skirt, there are several stores that carry exquisite fabrics, especially chiffons, many of which are used for sarees and can only be purchased in 6 yard increments (just enough for 2 veils). The prices will vary, so shop around. One store had amazing printed French chiffon that was $110 for 6 yards, while another carried lovely chiffon for about $4 a yard. Many of the stores have so many items that they cannot display them all, so if you are looking for something in particular, be sure to ask. After mentioning belly dance in one store, a large bag of Egyptian hip scarves appeared from behind the counter. While you are in Little India, you may also want to sample the food in one of the many restaurants or bakeries, or browse through a spice shop, which, in addition to almost every spice you can imagine, carry items like rose water, nuts and incense. Most of the stores do not open before 11 a.m. Although it is only a couple of blocks, plan on spending a few hours to savor all this community has to offer. Stores
18375 Pioneer Blvd. MissIndiaInc@aol.com 562-865-7775 Sital 18518 Pioneer Blvd. shop@sitalusa.com 562-809-1112 Bangle Bazaar/Music Warehouse 18624 Pioneer Blvd. BangleBazaar@aol.com 562-401-4890 India Sari Palace (ISP) (French chiffon) 18640 Pioneer Blvd. 562-402-7939 Music and Videos Raaga 18625 Pioneer Blvd. 562-865-6070 International Video 18421 Pioneer Blvd. 562-402-1969 Bangle Bazaar/Music Warehouse (see above) |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
Home | Terms of Use | Advertise | Contact Us
History of the Bindi Great Indian Forehead Decoration Bindi Magic
The Bindi Shop Fancy Bindi (several body “tattoos”) |
Choli A short blouse usually worn with a saree or a lengha Chunni or Dupatta A scarf or wrap worn with most Indian garments. It can be plain or beautifully embellished with embroidery Churidhar Fitted pants with deliberate snugness around the calf and ankles Kameez A long tunic about knee-length or beyond worn over pants or skirt Lacha A long skirt and tunic combination worn with a chunni to make up a complete set Lengha A long full skirt worn with a choli and chunni to make up a complete set Salwar Wide loose pants with a reinforced cuff and a drawstring usually worn with a long tunic Saree or Sari About 6 yards of lightweight fabric draped so that one end forms a skirt or pajama and the other a head or shoulder covering, often worn over a skirt petticoat and a choli |
LITTLE INDIA
Bindis, Bangles and a Lot More by Melia
Just 24 miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles, in Artesia,
is the community known as Little India. As soon as you step
out of your car, you know you have arrived at some place
special. The air is rich with the light aroma of exotic spices
like curry and tamarind, and women are clad in beautiful and
colorful chunnis, churidhars, lachas and sarees**. Yes, you
have stepped into a little slice of India right here in LA. If you
love Bollywood or Indian style dance, this is the perfect place
to find pieces to add to your dance wardrobe or music
collection. If that is not your dance style, there are lots of
goodies for you too.
The center of the shopping area is a two-block strip on
Pioneer Boulevard between 183rd Street and 187th Street (it
sounds like more than two blocks, but 183rd to 186th is
actually one long block). For one stop shopping, your first
stop should be Miss India Fashion, located in a strip center
just south of 183rd Street. The store owner, Ronish, knows a
bit about belly dance. In addition to Indian clothing, he stocks
an assortment of bindis, zills, hand and foot jewelry, earrings,
necklaces, coin belts, anklets, bangles, costumes, hip
scarves, veils and skirts. He will also order custom made
costumes. On a recent visit, he had multi-row Egyptian hip
scarves for $35, 2 ½ - 2 ¾ yard chiffon and silk charmeuse
veils and draw string silk charmeuse skirts.
Bindis, Bangles and a Lot More by Melia
Just 24 miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles, in Artesia,
is the community known as Little India. As soon as you step
out of your car, you know you have arrived at some place
special. The air is rich with the light aroma of exotic spices
like curry and tamarind, and women are clad in beautiful and
colorful chunnis, churidhars, lachas and sarees**. Yes, you
have stepped into a little slice of India right here in LA. If you
love Bollywood or Indian style dance, this is the perfect place
to find pieces to add to your dance wardrobe or music
collection. If that is not your dance style, there are lots of
goodies for you too.
The center of the shopping area is a two-block strip on
Pioneer Boulevard between 183rd Street and 187th Street (it
sounds like more than two blocks, but 183rd to 186th is
actually one long block). For one stop shopping, your first
stop should be Miss India Fashion, located in a strip center
just south of 183rd Street. The store owner, Ronish, knows a
bit about belly dance. In addition to Indian clothing, he stocks
an assortment of bindis, zills, hand and foot jewelry, earrings,
necklaces, coin belts, anklets, bangles, costumes, hip
scarves, veils and skirts. He will also order custom made
costumes. On a recent visit, he had multi-row Egyptian hip
scarves for $35, 2 ½ - 2 ¾ yard chiffon and silk charmeuse
veils and draw string silk charmeuse skirts.
Bindis
The word bindi is derived from the Sankrit word “bindu” – a
drop. Many say it signifies the mystical third eye and that a
red dot was worn to denote marital status. Today, bindis
come in many styles, shapes and colors, including larger
varieties (which might better be described as body jewelry,
instead of bindi) that can be used as “tattoos,” for the
arms, lower back, hands, shoulder, navel, legs or any
where you would like. A bindi worn between the eye brows
or right above, lights up the face and gives it a focal point.
The word bindi is derived from the Sankrit word “bindu” – a
drop. Many say it signifies the mystical third eye and that a
red dot was worn to denote marital status. Today, bindis
come in many styles, shapes and colors, including larger
varieties (which might better be described as body jewelry,
instead of bindi) that can be used as “tattoos,” for the
arms, lower back, hands, shoulder, navel, legs or any
where you would like. A bindi worn between the eye brows
or right above, lights up the face and gives it a focal point.
- Bindis can be found in many stores along
Pioneer Boulevard; however, there is a shop,
Sital, that makes bindis with beautiful, larger
stones. They come in wood boxes (the larger
assortment also has a mirror). A set of 15 in
different colors and styles is about $18 and a
set of 25 is about $25. The pictures do not do
these bindis justice and are not full sets.
Bangles, which often come
in set of as many as four
dozen in different styles
and widths in one color
scheme, can be found in
many shops, but for one
stop bangle shopping, no
one beats Bangle Bazaar.
in set of as many as four
dozen in different styles
and widths in one color
scheme, can be found in
many shops, but for one
stop bangle shopping, no
one beats Bangle Bazaar.
- They carry metal and
glass bangles of all
sizes and colors and
will custom make a
set for you.
Bindi sets from Sital
Significance of bangles Beach Combers offers a wide variety of bangles online, and instructions for putting on glass bangles. |
Bangles
Walls of bangles at Bangle Bazaar