Chennai is one of the important trade centres of south India and is a good place to shop for large variety of things.
Victoria Technical Institute at Mount Road, Mount Road has many other retail outlets for traditional handicrafts and handlooms from the south. For silk the main Centres are Srinivasa Silk, Nalli and Kumaran at Theyagaraya Nagar and B.M. Silks at Mylapore. For textiles and Gold Ornaments the best place to shop is Mount Road and Theyagaraya Nagar which has the retail outlets for all major textile mills in India.

Parry's Corner is one of the biggest markets of the city and deals in wholesale as well as retail trade. Trading in almost all kinds of goods from plastic goods to textiles and stationery, and from ready made garments to household items can be had here for reasonable prices. Nearby is the famous Burma Bazar where one can find all sorts of imported goods ranging from electronic gadgets to readymades and perfumes.

There are many new shopping complexes that have come all over the growing city. Such shopping centres as Alsa Mall on Montieth Road in Egmore, Spencer Plaza on Mount Road, Prince Plaza on Pantheon Road, the Nilgiris and Chintamani offer a large range of shopping to be done under a single roof. For those who are looking for traditional bell metal items, bronze icons, and stone sculpture, as well as other crafts of the southern region, the best place to shop would be the Tamil Nadu State Emporia - Poompuhar.