Anavila Misra's classic sarees to showcase at Numaish Festive Fair in Dubai

In four short years, Anavila Misra has helped change the perception of the sari and made fashion circles and beyond embrace this ethnic drape. She believes in rediscovering India's craft and culture. Instantly recognisable, her saris, made with her  trademark hand-woven linen, are gorgeous and wonderfully simple. Her brand relies on organic materials which are soft and comfortable on the skin. Seeking inspiration from the quaint nooks of diverse India, Anavila pulls together earthy, authentic textiles that embody natural elements and are made of linen for everyday ease. Breathing fresh air on the staid concept of saris, the designer was awarded the prestigious Vogue Fashion Fund Sari Award in 2015 and the FICCI Design Award for Disruptive Design the following year. Anavila's collection is showcasing on September 28-29, from 11am-9pm, at Godolphin Ballroom, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai.

Design ethos
Rooted in Indian ethos, Anavila's designs have fully embraced heritage - be it the Mughal influence or the impact Britain had on colonial India. "The kind of textiles, the textures, the handwoven khadi plain fabric which is organically dyed is something that we were doing originally. Then came in silk, and India became a silk producing centre for most of the European countries and that became a part of our cluster. There's a mixed sensibility which we carry within ourselves now. So the Indian ethos which we see is very basic, simple and comfortable textile as well as garment," said Anavila.

Celebrity muses
Bollywood fashion icons like Sonam Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Konkana Sen Sharma, Kangana Ranaut, to name a few, are well acquainted with Anavila's saris. "There's this big revelation and acceptance in Bollywood now of being comfortable in handloom. So we're seeing a lot of celebrities wearing our saris and fabrics," the designer said.

What to expect at the show
"We're bringing in our classics - whites and beiges along with our top Autumn collection. We have an array of prints in Landais for a more casual look and for formals, we're gearing towards Indian festivals now - Diwali is on the cards. So, we're bringing a collection which has a little bit of shimmer and colour as well. Earlier, Dubai saw our apparel line as more casual with off-whites and basics, but this time we're also bringing our festive line," said Anavila.
neha@khaleejtimes.com