Uma Sarees was the first saree shop opened in Montreal in 1972 by owner Balwant Chugh. Now in its second generation and located on Côte-des-Neiges, Uma Sarees is a favourite emporium of various ethnic communities and people who love colour and personalized service.
Uma Sarees’ window displays attract attention from the street. Inside the window are infinite folds and rolls of textures, saturated with colour and ingenious patterns that tantalize the senses. Cashmere shawls, bolts of raw silk and traditional outfits from around India each propose a plunge into their distinctly draped and cut galaxy of colour.
In the back of the store there is a changing room where Puneet Chugh provides the uninitiated with a saree fitting service. Puneet, who is Balwant Chugh’s daughter-in-law, immigrated from India in 2010. “I’m a younger addition here. I try to put myself in other people’s shoes," Puneet explains. "I understand what they’re looking for. And I do recommend good tailors who charge reasonable prices to our clients. We want people to be entirely happy with what they buy here.”
Puneet was a designer in Kolkata, India with her own clothing line. She produced collections that she describes as having, “Indian fabrics with Western cuts.” She worked with fabric dyers and printers to produce her own custom patterns.
