Anavila Misra - Style And Sustainability

Designer Anavila Misra launched her eponymous label over a decade ago. She talks to Arzoo Dina about crafting a mindful design story, her love for slow fashion, and how being at one with the environment has been one of the biggest drivers for her label.

- Arzoo Dina

IT WAS JUST OVER a decade ago that designer Anavila Misra launched her eponymous label, Anavila, rooted in the idea of showcasing inherently Indian textiles laced with a contemporary sensibility. Her signature creation, the linen saree, led to a shift in the perception of how a non-traditional fabric could be utilised for the classic Indian drape. In fact, that set the tone for the brand’s cognisance as a proponent of slow, sustainable fashion, and indigenous textiles.

Now, the label has been making steady strides in the Indian fashion space, launching its debut bridal edit, Aamod, that champions the return to quiet luxury with an assortment of diaphanous khadi silks and linen zari pieces. Plus, there’s a new summer collection called ÉTÉ, that celebrates Puducherry’s quintessential French and Tamil influences. Here, rose motifs and hand block prints blend seamlessly with bright summer colours, across appliqué sarees and jackets to flowy sets and separates. For Misra, keeping the environment in mind has been one of the biggest drivers for her label. Excerpts from the conversation:

You’re known for your sustainable designs and dedication to slow fashion. How has the label evolved with this ethos?