Aavya Pure Mul Cotton Wax Batik Suit White & Black (T+B+D)

What is the pattern on the top?

Fine nested squares, each with a small flower at the centre, line up across a white ground in a deep, cool tone. The scale is small and the look is crisp, a little like a classic shirting print, which makes it very easy to wear to work.

How would I style it for the office?

Pair the top with its deep-toned dupatta and a straight pant cut from the bottom length for a clean workday look. Small silver studs or a simple watch is enough. For meetings, a mandarin or shirt collar suits the crisp grid.

Any tailoring advice?

Mul cotton falls softly, so avoid very stiff or sculpted cuts. Straight kurtas, A-lines and shirt-style kurtas look best. With about 2.4 to 2.5 metres for the bottom, you can choose straight pants, palazzos or a salwar. If you want more coverage, add a thin cotton lining.

What is the fabric like to wear?

Pure mul cotton is soft, light and smooth, woven from fine cotton yarns. It breathes well in warm weather and drapes gently, and this piece has a slight slub texture on the surface that keeps it from looking flat.

Where is the batik done?

At the Indiehaat unit in Kota, under master artisan Haq Nawaz. Hot wax is applied by hand to mark out the pattern before the cloth is dyed, then removed afterwards to reveal the design, so each piece varies slightly.