Mull over the phrase just a little bit, and there are a few questions that come up when you think, Indian summer. Firstly, we think it states the obvious. Secondly, and more importantly, why should a designer of free India associate a collection with a phrase that some say eludes attempts of political correctness? “You could be forgiven for thinking that it [Indian summer] comes from British colonial rule in India […] One theory goes as far as to credit it to Native Americans ‘American Indians’ […],” according to an article in The Guardian.

Perhaps the question of its origin will never be settled. But to use the phrase as marketing rubric is ideologically problematic. In the course of our conversation, designers Rina Singh and Amit Hansraj are univocal about the lasting business appeal of Indian summer looks. The category of relaxed and summery shapes in feel-good fabrics, broadly presented to consumers from March well into July, frees a designer to find more viable points of sales. “The calendar is ideal [for designers] to freshen up clothing racks with two or three drops. The profitable returns are worth the investment,” Singh explains.