Our Story
- Casa
- Our Story
Namaste Gozo is part of our family’s journey: a story of new beginnings, generous people, colourful discoveries and finding our place in Malta.
Before the business, there was us
Our story together began in Nepal. After meeting Alice in Chitwan, Amit followed his heart all the way to Kathmandu, hoping to spend a little more time with her.
Before he returned to India, we finally took this photograph together. It was a special moment, made all the more precious because we had little idea when we might see each other again. We certainly did not expect it to be so soon.
Just a few months later, Alice came to India especially to see Amit. What might have remained a lovely travel memory became the beginning of our life together — and, eventually, the family and business whose story we share here.
Meeting the family in India
Alice’s visit to India brought another important first: meeting Amit’s parents. After the beginning of our story in Nepal, this was a chance to get to know the family and the place that were such a big part of his life.
This photograph holds a special place among our early memories. It marks a moment when our lives became a little more connected, bringing together the people who would become part of our shared family story.
Fifty kilometres and a Wednesday market
Before we had our car, Amit’s market days began on his Enfield Bullet. Every Wednesday, he would ride around 50 kilometres to a market on the other side of Goa to set up and sell.
Finding his place among a sea of other sellers was not easy. Some days were tough, but there was plenty of fun in it too. Those weekly rides and busy market days became part of the adventure of learning how to run a small business.
Looking back, we remember both the hard work and the enjoyment. Long before a shop of our own, there was a motorbike, a Wednesday market and the willingness to give it a go.
Sunset evenings and a little Maruti
One of our most treasured early memories takes us to Benaulim, Goa, when Alice was expecting our first son. We bought a second-hand Maruti and began our first business together, selling earrings from India, Thailand and Indonesia by the sea.
For two or three hours around sunset, we would set up our colourful little display along the seashore. It was a simple beginning, with our car, our collection and a new chapter of family life on the way.
There was something wonderfully freeing about those evenings. We were building something of our own, side by side, and enjoying the freedom of seeing where it might take us. It is a feeling we still carry with us today.
A first visit, and a little more hair
This photograph takes us back to Amit’s very first visit to Malta with Alice, and a windswept moment together by the sea in Gozo.
It was long enough ago that Gozo’s Azure Window was still standing — and Amit had rather more hair for the sea breeze to play with!
Much has changed since that photograph, but it remains a lovely reminder of those early days, exploring together before Malta and Gozo became such a big part of our family’s story.
Small beginnings, a happy heart
Before Ethnic Tara and Namaste Gozo, Amit had his first taste of business here in Malta thanks to the kindness of our friend Pepson, who shared a little space at his kiosk at Ramla Bay.
These were very modest beginnings. An average day brought in around €8, and his best day’s sales reached €22. The takings may have been small, but Amit was a happy boy there: grateful for the chance to give it a go, with a little corner to call his own.
We look back on those days with a smile. That small start, and a friend’s generosity, will always have a special place in our story.
“An €8 day, a €22 best day — and one very happy Amit.”
Our beginnings: Ethnic Tara, 2016
Our story began in February 2016, when we opened our first retail outlet, Ethnic Tara, in Buġibba, Malta. We took those first steps with the help of family and friends, whose encouragement and guidance helped us find our feet. We remain deeply grateful to everyone who supported us from the beginning.
The business gave us a reason to travel through Asia in search of new designs, creativity and craftsmanship. Along the way, we met people whose work we were excited to bring back to Malta. Some of those supplier relationships grew into friendships so close that they now feel like family.
A new chapter: Namaste Gozo, 2020
In April 2020, we opened our second outlet, Namaste Gozo, in Mellieħa. Just a week after opening, our new beginning was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Repeated closures and lockdowns made those early days far more uncertain than we could ever have imagined.
The kindness and understanding of our landlords helped us keep going through that difficult time. Their support is something we have never forgotten, and for which we will always be thankful.
Choosing time for our family
As our family grew, we were blessed with two wonderful, healthy sons, and Gozo became our home. Running two shops while travelling between the islands brought a new question into focus: how could we give our business the care it needed while making more time for our children?
Mellieħa was closer to home than Buġibba, saving us around half an hour of travelling. With heavy hearts, we decided to close Ethnic Tara and concentrate our energy on Namaste Gozo. It was not an easy goodbye to the place where everything had begun, but it allowed us to build a more manageable balance between family life and the shop.
Connections that go beyond the shop
Our travels remain an important part of the business. They give us opportunities to discover fresh ideas, reconnect with familiar suppliers and appreciate the people and traditions behind the pieces we choose.
For Amit, whose family is still based in India, these journeys also carry a personal meaning. He tries to return at least once a year whenever circumstances allow, bringing family connections and the life of the shop together.
From festival stalls to our shop
Our journey has also taken us beyond the shop and into festivals across Malta. We have happy memories of setting up our stalls, sharing our collections and meeting people at the many events we took part in successfully.
As the years go by, we are learning to be kinder to our time and energy. Festival days take a great deal of preparation, setting up and packing away, so these days we are stepping back from events and choosing a gentler pace. We are putting that energy into our shop, our family and the conversations we enjoy with everyone who visits.
Our little corner of Mellieħa
Like many small independent businesses, we face the challenges of a changing world, from online competition to the daily work of looking after both a physical shop and a website. Yet we continue to find our place through the care we put into Namaste Gozo and the people who walk through our door.
Over time, we have created a little corner of colour and discovery in the heart of Mellieħa. Some visitors tell us they are surprised by what they find inside; others make a visit to the shop part of their routine whenever they come to Malta. Those returning faces, thoughtful reviews and kind words mean more to us than we can easily express.
Every visit, recommendation and purchase helps keep this family business going. To everyone who has supported us along the way: thank you for being part of our story.
Inside our shop
Mellieħa · May 2026. Select a photo to see it in full.
Come in and say namaste
Whether you are looking for something particular or simply curious to explore, you are warmly welcome. Take your time, enjoy the colours and ask us about the pieces that catch your eye.
As a small family business, we cannot always show every colour, size or design online. If you have seen something in the shop or would like to explore more options, please get in touch. We are happy to continue the conversation and help you discover what is available.
Visit us at 79 Triq Gorg Borg Olivier, Il-Mellieħa, MLH 1022, Malta.