Meera and Muzzafar Ali's label, Kotwara -- famed for its beautiful, traditional designs -- aims to bring back to life a bygone era where graceful women spent summer afternoons lounging in the courtyards of Lucknow, listening to Sufi music and gently laughing among themselves.

Pristine white colours, melded with silver tissue, were crafted into exquisite pyjamas, kurtas and long-draped odhnis to bring alive that elegant atmosphere on the ramp.

Delicate Muri embroidery from the Chikankari family was used to create exquisite motifs of flowers on the salwar-kameezes.

The dressiness of the chiffon lehengas was offset by the use of subtle colours like rose, peach, pink red and green.

The finale consisted of rich Kanjeevaram silk saris, with their temple borders and pallus enhanced by bird motifs. Again, the Alis used rich colours like blue, maroon, orange and green.

The designer duo also launched a range of khakis under the label, Khak. This cotton and linen range, coloured in natural hues of indigo, army greens and brown, featured jodhpur pants, waistcoats, jackets, short sleeved shirts and textured skirts.

The Prêt line of the Kotwara collection is priced under Rs 10,000, while the Diffusion line ranges between Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000.

Photograph: Jewella C Miranda
Editorial support: Imran Shaikh