Wear comfort on your sleeves this summer!

We're all going on a summer holiday…/No more working for a week or two…./Fun and laughter on our summer holiday/….Cliff Richards

With holidays and family get-togethers occupying top slots in our personal calendars, it's that time of the year again when we let summer take over every aspect of our lives. And what is a holiday without the right clothes and stylish looks? Keeping this in mind, fashion designer Pranay Baidya Atelier from Kolkata has just launched his Spring Summer Resort collection that highlights easy to wear clothing with a dash of personal style. Be it destination weddings, partying after work, or simply being the toast of a family gathering, the collection fits into every possible occasion that celebrates letting go of the wintry months and coming into your own in the sunny season.

In this capsule cocktail collection styled with dazzling Swarovski SS-17 jewels, Pranay reinvents traditional Indian textiles, blending them with contemporary silhouettes while experimenting with contrasting textures and treatment. The outfits are designed as separates, keeping in mind the preferences of modern-day men and women and their idea of wearable fashion. Speaking about his collection, Pranay says, "I have blended traditional techniques with innovative ideas to create outfits that are unique. An ensemble of fusion silhouettes including gowns, maxi skirts, sarees, jacket blouses, lehengas and contemporary ethnic menswear come to life in delicate hues of dust pink, peach, coral, grey and gold. The range works with silk, muslin, chiffon and organza, celebrating the timeless elegance of textiles from India."

Summer is all about comfort, light fabrics, and vibrant colours. The season to wear flowery patterns and flowing drapes, summer fashion gets a new destination with a collection by well-known fashion designer Suchismita Dasgupta. The sarees and other garments by Suchismita'sNextiles are not only a testimony to the rich textile heritage of the country but also style statements are a perfect foil to the hot and humid weather. With Poila Boisakh around the corner, sarees, dhotis and kurtas with their intricate designs and traditional feel by Nextiles make them a perfect wear to stand out in the crowd.

Contemporary designer Purvi Doshi from New Delhi has just launched her resort collection named 'Hues in the Sun' which is purely eco-friendly and organic. Doshi is a favourite among dazzling Bollywood actors like Sonam Kapoor, Kajol Devgan, Nandita Das, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Sonali Bendre, Radhika Apte, Sonal Chauhan, Swara Bhaskar, and Rakul Preet Singh. Purvi Doshi's line this season is about divine colours bathed in the sunshine silhouettes exclusively made of khadi.

The soulful vintage inflorescences create a pleasing and balanced composition and the mirror brings out the magic of the creation. The collection embodies the Sun's radiant energy through its natural colours. Long and flowy garments add to the charm of the wearer for sure. Sustainability at its root and khadi in its soul, each garment is made in India, with utmost care and love so as to enhance Mother Nature's pride and glory. "Purvi Doshi" – the label celebrates India's crafts and weaves by combining traditional techniques with contemporary designs moulded into beautiful nature-friendly clothing. It chronicles and restores heirloom traditions from the heart of our villages and fashions them into contemporary tales. The label collaborates closely with artisans and helps to create a better livelihood. Mumbai-based designer Fahd Khatri

has created a range of chic garments for different occasions this summer. Keeping wearability and style in mind, Fahd has come up with a line of designs that can be termed 'comfort fashion'. From flowy silhouettes to weaves in vibrant colours, there is something for everyone. This designer ably combines stylish cuts, Indian aesthetics and bright tones to match international standards in terms of diversity, quality, and elegance. The purpose of Fahd's creations is to make comfortable and easy outfits. Feel good hues and structured cuts make his collections full of poise. The brand's goal is to treat its clients with light-weight and stylish cotton garments. Many of his collections include holiday-inspired, easy-to-carry outfits for honeymoon couples and travel lovers. He also offers a lot of trendy airport-friendly garments and casual outfits for luncheons or a fun day out in the sun.

Khatri's creations are predominantly a mix of stylish cuts, rich aesthetics and vibrant hues to match international standards of quality and diversity. Each garment has a personality of its own there are creations for both men and women. Launched in early 2014, the brand is currently available at limited stores. His clothes are available at Juhu, Warden Road and Bandra West, Mumbai.

Cut to Kolkata, and the Kantha revivalist Shamlu Dudeja tells us that she and her team has been making cotton saris, dupattas, scarves, tunics, ponchos and multi-layered jackets. Some of them are being repeated for the ongoing summer. "We are introducing newer cuts, and lighter cotton fabrics such as Chanderi, which are more suitable for the younger generation. We will be using more crepes and georgettes for the US and France since they prefer softer and lighter fabrics," Dudeja told Millennium Post. Dudeja retails from her home in Alipore, Kolkata.

Back in the Capital, Sunil Mehra, a bespoke luxury designer presented the "SS-17 collection" for his clients as summer took over. The collection comprises of striking checks and stripes, vibrant shades and warm hues, animal and floral prints – vital additions to your summer wardrobe. In fact, Mehra seeks to make your summers comfortable by introducing an exclusive range of garments which comprises breathable fabrics for blazers like cotton silk, linen silk, and also a whole range of cotton scarves, animal themed cufflinks and ties as well as leather shoes.

Says Saggar Mehra, the creative director, "To make summers striking and contrasting, go for quirky prints like floral or animal prints in shirts and accessories. Vibrant or warm pastel shades like yellow, cream, blue and pink enhance the elegance and make you feel pleasant. When it comes to accessories, a scarf can jazz up your look. Floral, stripes, paisley are some of the trending patterns. Pocket Squares in artful patterns are perfect to enhance the poise in your formal look. To add a touch of casual look in your formals opt for animal or floral themed ties, pocket squares or cufflinks."

Be it simple or hybrid look, monochrome or vibrant shades, the collection is comprehensive and perfectly apt for any look one desires. A leading fashion player, Sunil Mehra stands out for his ability to reconcile fashion with innovation and original thinking.