On Wednesday afternoon Shades of India opened its first Mumbai store at Bandra, a mix of fashionistas and culturati soaked in the fine design explorations as the sunlight streamed in through the French windows. While the catering staff passed trays of hors d'oeuvres, actor Nandita Das stayed on the first floor, while negotiating with photographers bargaining for "one photo". In a corner, Mandeep Nagi, the brand's design director, and chairman and husband David Housego played pleasant hosts.

At the centre of the buzz stood the main attraction: apparel, home décor and accessories collections. The main floor is dedicated to clothing and accessories while menswear and soft furnishings are placed upstairs. The apparel section is divided into sub-brands —Afsana, Neem Living, Carnival, Calcutta and Saree Collection (Rs 13,000 to Rs 26,000). These are ethically produced capsule collections of separates featuring kurtas, jackets, sheer overlays, dresses, shirts, sarees, blouses, stoles and trousers. Each relaxed ensemble carries the quiet confidence of India's heritage of hand-made textiles and textures without the urgency to prove a legacy. If you prefer shapes that are classic and crisp with the agility of neutral tones, and rhythmic disruptions of surface texturing, then these should be your go-to options.