The Indian Silk Center in Dammam
- Lifestyles
- Special Interest
Author: Britney B.
Released 14 June 2003
Indian Silk Shop
Photograph by Britney B.
Once or twice a year I make a trip to this very special shop, usually with a few friends by bus or taxi. Since the last time I visited it has relocated to larger premises, though it used to be great fun in the old place rummaging around the piles of goods to find a bargain.
Photograph by Britney B.
When four of us went by taxi the other day it was to the new location. It’s bigger and brighter and you don’t need to poke around to find bargains any more as they are all very much on display. There’s a great variety of merchandise to choose from: silk saris, silk and raw silk fabrics, Kashmir woollen shawls, cotton and silk kaftans, pashminas, tablecloths, cushion covers. The list is endless. I often buy shawls, tablecloths and pashminas as gifts for friends and family at home and they’ve been very popular. The saris are ideal for draping over curtain poles for a different look, especially in a bedroom at the windows or over a bed head.
Photography by Britney B.
The prices are exceptional. Saris, consisting of 5½ or 6 metres of fabric, cost from SR30 upwards, Kashmir shawls SR30, silk cushion covers from SR10, are just examples, and the more you buy the greater the discount!
Located near the Dammam Shopping Center on the corner of 15th and 10th Streets, the Indian Silk Center (tel. 827 1375) is easiest to get to by taxi, unless you have an intrepid male to take you who doesn’t mind tackling the Dammam traffic, waiting for at least an hour for you to look around the shop, and who won’t tell you that you really don’t need to buy another pashmina or tablecloth. In my experience there are not many of those around, so it may be less stressful if you go with your girlfriends and you’ll probably have much more fun. We always hire a Majestic taxi and have it stay with us for the entire trip. Then we can incorporate a few more stops such as the Al Wafa shopping mall and/or the really excellent upholstery and curtaining fabric shop, Al Guthmi, situated opposite the Sheraton Hotel, which has one of the most spectacular display of fabrics I’ve ever seen.
Photograph by Britney B.
Happy bargain hunting!