Raw and unbleached, Ecru is in

May is the month when summer in India unleashes itself and with temperatures and humidity

climbing the barometric charts, the bold and the beautiful of India are slipping into their new summer wear with cool and suave. The reason being that apart from the traditional use of cottons and linens, this season ecru fabrics are being declared a cool style. Designers Wendell Rockricks, James Ferreira, Savio Jon, Asmita Marwah, Rahul Khanna & Rohit Gandhi, and Aneeth Arora have already included ecru in their latest lines. Wendell, whose line was inspired by the Kunbi Tribe, says that he has “skillfully” combined cotton and silk, woven and knitted textures to celebrate ecru. Asmita Marwah says, she has introduced a mystical muse, Maya, a free-spirited world traveler and a bohemian at heart, who dreams of a world without boundaries Marwah chose natural dyes and fabrics like khadi, along with doris (threads) and an assortment of colors, prints and textures. So, whoever said going natural was boring, can rethink their stance with these designers taking the onus on themselves.

The trade lends the designers full support on this. Fashionista and fashion store owner, Tina Tahiliani, says that ecru is looking up from the business aspect as well. The ecru lines that she stocks are made up of light cotton and muslin fabrics, perfect for keeping cool this summer. She says design is the key to grabbing attention with such fabrics and designers are now offering flowing and feminine silhouettes which will surely please everyone.

Ecru is the most natural form of a fabric, pristine in its raw and unbleached state. The designers are excited at the new texture and feel that ecru fabric add to their portfolio.