For Summer Resort 2014 Shruti Sancheti added a Boho-European discipline to her signature—both in style and substance. Inspired by the beauty of Pondicherry the designer deftly blended Temple weaves with French sensibility—not an easy feat to accomplish. Yet given her expertise it was a perfect merger of aesthetic and inspiration.

Without veering into costume, Shruti eschewed the surface value of such a theme. Instead there was an elegance and hauteur in the base fabric teamed with silk and natural calico cotton.. lace and cotton silk crafted into midis and maxis.. jumpsuits and asymmetrical dresses. Women who prefer a traditional look could find kurtas and saris where artisanal weaving and long-short stitches.. cutwork and French knots added new depth to classic silhouettes. PS I loved the blossoms in the form of screen and block prints—particularly striking in the floral cutwork bolero and in the saris treated with lace.

Filing out of the show the thought that remained with me was "it's essentially about women asserting independence through the way they dress." An impressive collection that's elevated Shruti Sancheti into a different league.

— JASMEEN DUGAL