Aashish Collections

If you’ve ever been to Chandni Chowk, you know how crazy it can get. Aashish Collections is tucked away in Katra Neel, right in Gali Ghanteshwar. Our showroom is number 670 on the Sf, which stands for second floor, I think, though sometimes people get confused with the levels in these old buildings. It’s a very traditional market feel here. You have to navigate through the narrow lanes and avoid the handcarts and all the people rushing around. Once you get inside our space, it’s a bit of a relief from the heat and the crowds outside. The shelves are usually full and there isn't much room to walk around, but that is just how it is in Katra Neel. We spend a lot of time just sorting through things and talking to the other shopkeepers nearby. Everyone knows everyone else in this gali. The building itself is old, like most things in this part of Delhi, and it has a lot of character, even if the stairs are a bit steep. We don't have fancy lights or a big marketing budget. We just open up the showroom every morning and see what the day brings. It’s a lot of manual work, carrying things up and down, but it keeps us busy. Chandni Chowk never really sleeps, so there is always a sense of hurry in the air even when we are just sitting having a quick lunch.