BJP minister Nandita Garlosa joins Congress day before Assam nomination deadline; to contest from HalflongHaflong's sitting MLA Nandita Garlosa was denied a ticket by the BJP, which fielded Rupali Langthasa from the seat after dropping several sitting legislators. Updated on: Mar 23
People in Kashmir are showing solidarity with Iran. They are donating cars, jewelry, and even land. This response comes after calls for support from the Iranian Embassy. Donations are being made directly or exchanged for cash. This gesture highlights a strong humanitarian response from the region
Germany is continuing to struggle with a shortage of skilled workers, as elderly staff retire, and there are not enough young candidates to fill their roles. To try to alleviate the problem the country is increasingly turning to workers from India. For Handirk von Ungern-Sternberg
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.I tested the Infinix Note Edge 5G: Great display and battery, but performance left me wanting moreThe Infinix Note Edge 5G is trying to shake up the mid-range market with a slim design
Pep Guardiola's wild run and dance down Wembley's touchline demonstrated the hunger for success remains and his competitive fire still burns as fiercely as ever. It came after Nico O'Reilly's second header in four minutes effectively sealed Manchester City's 2-0 Carabao Cup final victory against
A viral thread describing chaotic behaviour by a section of Indian tourists at Brazil’s Iguaçu Falls has once again put the spotlight on a recurring—and uncomfortable—conversation: why do Indian travellers often get a bad reputation abroad? An Indian traveller by the name Gaurav Sabnis
Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy on Sunday announced her withdrawal from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, citing concerns over her personal safety despite assurances from the organisers amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. The Candidates
Senior BJP leaders are actively addressing internal party disagreements following the announcement of candidates for the upcoming 2026 assembly elections. Efforts are underway to pacify disgruntled leaders and supporters. Discussions are happening with those denied tickets to ensure party unity
A chance encounter with a small, raw rendering of a khatwa appliqué, a traditional art form from Bihar and Jharkhand, at a Crafts Council exhibition in New Delhi drew designer Anavila Misra to Dumka in Jharkhand, and a group of young girls who had trained in the embroidery. Bringing them into her fold and refining their craft over the last few years, Misra was keen to provide a peek into their world.
From Anavila a collection that returns to her father’s sugarcane fields Premium
A chance encounter with a small, raw rendering of a khatwa appliqué, a traditional art form from Bihar and Jharkhand, at a Crafts Council exhibition in New Delhi drew designer Anavila Misra to Dumka in Jharkhand, and a group of young girls who had trained in the embroidery. Bringing them into her fold and refining their craft over the last few years, Misra was keen to provide a peek into their world.
At the launch of her new collection, ‘Sarmast', in Hyderabad, which also coincided with her brand's new outpost at Maison Isa, a boutique housed within The Leela hotel, a delightful khatwa wall panel of a forest stood as testimony to their collaboration. These were no textbook renditions or botanical illustrations. This was folklore, innocent and whimsical, with lush trees — identifiable by the way a branch curves, a leaf bends — sparrows pecking grains, a mother hen leading her chicks, and sheep and sprightly deer engaging with squirrels and peacocks. It was nature the way their forefathers saw it and rendered as art.
The khatwa wall panel
It is these stories of co-existence — the traditions of craft and culture, the lives built around it — that is the foundation of not just Misra's work, but her DNA. Her late father, born into a humble farming community, chose to study and not pursue agriculture, she shares. He went on to become an accoladed dairy scientist. “But as much as he left behind his village, the village never left him,” she recalls. “We spent every vacation there playing in the sugarcane fields and stepwells. Morning walks with my father were slow and leisurely. He'd pick leaves and flowers, and delight in studying them.”
Outfits from Sarmast
Those walks now find permanent expression as a tattoo — a vividly inked image of Misra and her father Jagveer, strolling through sugarcane fields — on her forearm. Unhurried, mindful, exploratory, it is a moment in time that she aims for in everything she does.
Misra's tattoo
Misra is often referred to as a textile explorer, but that would be to minimise the time and thought spent on the process of innovating and reinterpreting what exists, in her own language. Her recasting of the linen sari is one for the annals. “In 2011, I set out to create a textile that was new. I had loved linen from the time I worked in menswear design, but it was not conducive to the flow and ease a sari required,” she reminisces. “No one wove with linen yarn then, and my search took me to a weaver in West Bengal who wove linen stoles. So began my first collaboration.”
Anavila Misra
Since then, linen has met zari, jamdani and more in its couture format, and been a staple in the boardroom for women leaders and CEOs. Fourteen years on, Misra has expanded her range from saris to occasion wear, contemporary, children's wear, and now home linen — all while staying committed to responsible creation and collaborative initiatives with artisanal communities.
Her curiosity to learn has also taken her across geographical locations, from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Rajasthan, to her more recent sojourns in the Chettinad and Puducherry regions. And her travels have often informed her collections, including the 2024 ‘Payanam', which drew inspiration from southern architecture and textile, and ‘ÉTÉ' that reflected the French and Tamil influence found in Puducherry.
Hyderabad is Misra's next stop in her growth story. The new Anavila boutique opened with a showcase of ‘Sarmast' (meaning “poetically intoxicated” in Persian). The hotel lobby was reimagined as a Nizam's salon with tables draped in luxurious velvet, and chandeliers, including one sprawled on the floor in casual irreverence, spilling light over fruits and models alike. “My research led me to the Basheerbagh Palace and two invitations made of textile and lace from [prime minister of hyderabad] Sir Asman Jahan Bahadur, for a dress-up party,” she says. “Celebration and hospitality are integral to Hyderabad's culture, and from there came the theme for the show.”
A post shared by Maison Isa (@maison.isa.hyderabad)
Her metallic drapes and dresses reflected a cross pollination of cultures, too. “Our research came from images of Nilufer Hanimsultan and Durrusehvar Sultan, Ottoman princesses who married into Hyderabad royalty,” explains Misra, adding that floral motifs were borrowed from Rococo cornices and ceiling ornamentation of palaces such as the Falaknuma, while metallic zari linens and jewel toned silks were a nod to Baroque tapestries and brocades that furnished the spaces.
Sarmast showcase at The Leela
With the launch of her home line, Misra widens the body of her work while the soul stays aligned with her philosophy. Using kala cotton, linen, wool, and khadi, nature continues to play a central theme in the creations. “Spaces are a part of our self-expression,” she believes. “We had been exploring our home line for a few years, but were unsure if Indian homes were ready for our minimalistic aesthetic. Post COVID-19, we found that had changed, and customers were looking for a quieter ethos.” Her quilts, cushion covers, table runners, and napkins that sport kathwa, sujini, and prints echo this.
The Anavila store at Maison Isa
People of the Forest collectibles
As she continues to travel and innovate, her goal is to introduce local culture, textile and craft into all her work. “What I've learnt is that one can integrate external influences without losing one's history and identity,” she says. It will be interesting to see the Deccan and southern textiles and craft integrate further into her language.
The freelance writer is a professional in the design space.
Published - June 05, 2025 03:31 pm IST
The Hindu Sunday Magazine / fashion / textile and clothing / Hyderabad
Source: The Hindu
Related Posts: Samay Raina’s chance encounter with 25% Chance AI could be catastrophic Chance to give batters game time before Asia Cup Super 4s Mane destroys Salah's Afcon dream again - will he get another chance Unni Mukundan reveals why there's ‘no chance’ for Marco sequel Neeraj Chopra Looks At Tokyo Setback As A Chance To Reflect Indian women’s last chance to qualify for World Cup Cooper Connolly relishes chance to share field with WPL - Chance for domestic players to steal the spotlight When will £18m Lammens get his chance at Man Utd
The Election Commission will deploy approximately 200,000 cameras for 100% webcasting of voting in West Bengal, with sensitive booths receiving three cameras. New initiatives like a control command center and a dedicated complaint cell aim for a violence-free and fair election. These measures
1 days ago
Amid growing war with Iran, US treasury secretary says Trump is ‘defanging Iranian regime’Scott Bessent said that Trump is using ‘the only language the Iranians understand” by threatening to destroy its power plants over Hormuz stalemate. Published on: Mar 23
1 days ago
Janhvi Kapoor’s recent move from Karan Johar-led Dharma Cornerstone Artist Agency (DCAA) to Collective Artist Network has once again highlighted a growing trend in the film industry—actors frequently switching talent management teams. With names like Ranveer Singh and Parineeti Chopra also
1 days ago
Weekly Love Horoscope for March 23-29, 2026: Set clear goals to eliminate confusionWeekly Love Horoscope for March 23-29, 2026: This week, Mars provides all of the energy you need to take your current romantic connection to the next level. Published on: Mar 23
1 days ago
The first episode of Saturday Night Live UK has hit our screens - 50 years after the US original - and largely got a warm welcome from critics, but it failed to raise a smile with some. When it was announced, there was wariness about how the comedy sketch show would translate for a British audience
1 days ago
Craving cake but avoiding consuming egg this Navratri? You can make individual size chocolate cake portions in the air fryer. By swaping the all-purpose flour (aka maida), for wheat flour, this can also make for a healthier dessert. For many people in India who do not have an oven
1 days ago
For years, one of India’s oldest English newspapers, The Statesman, was in financial distress. Its revenues were dwindling, and it had struggled to settle dues with lenders like the State Bank of India. Yet, in June 2025, the newspaper pulled off a corporate miracle
1 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting to review the West Asia conflict's impact on India. The committee assessed critical needs like food, energy, and fuel security, directing a dedicated group to manage the effects. Measures for short, medium
1 days ago
On Wednesday, the war in West Asia shifted significant gears when Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field. In retaliation on early Thursday, Iran attacked Qatar’s Ras Laffan plant – the world’s largest liquified natural gas plant from where one-fifth of the global natural gas is exported
1 days ago
On Friday, MCX gold April futures added 0.23 per cent while MCX silver May futures declined 1.72 per cent. Currently gold futures stand at Rs 1,44,825, while silver futures at Rs 2,27,470 per kg. Also Read :City gas firms advised to prioritise PNG connections for commercial entitiesOn Friday
1 days ago
GATE 2026 Mechanical Engineering Safe Score: As per the Official schedule released, IIT Guwahati will release the GATE 2026 result on March 19, 2026. Candidates who appeared for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering on Feb 7, 8, 14, and 15 can check their qualifying status on the given GATE
1 days ago
The Kerala Congress has much to chew on, and the “food for thought" has been served by former dentist and national spokesperson, Dr Shama Mohamed. After being denied a ticket for the Kannur assembly seat, Shama took to social media site X to declare herself “denied but not defeated". However
1 days ago
IIT graduate quits high-paying job in US, sells house to travel the world with family: 'I traded 4 BHK for entire world'The man described how he spent years in a well-paying job in the US but felt unfulfilled despite professional achievements. Updated on: Mar 22
1 days ago
New ATM rules are set to become effective from April 01, marking as an attempt to standardize the process of withdrawing cash from the machines. Several banks have announced major changes in the process that will direct impact customers. Some of the big changes are reducing the limit of withdrawal
1 days ago
Light rain likely in Gurugram as temperatures set to rise this weekIMD forecasts partly cloudy weather, isolated showers Monday. Temperatures set to rise 4–7°C; gusty winds up to 41 kmph recorded. Updated on: Mar 23, 2026 7:55 AM IST By Abhishek Bhatia Share via Copy link Gurugram recorded clear
1 days ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called on world leaders to join the Israel-US war on Iran. “I’m happy to say that I can see some of them beginning to move in that direction, but more is needed,” Netanyahu added, without naming any country
1 days ago
As the days stretch longer and the heat begins to settle in, the way we unwind naturally shifts – lighter meals, slower evenings, and drinks that feel as refreshing as the season itself. Summer, after all, is less about indulgence and more about ease
1 days ago
Stock Market Tomorrow: The Indian equities market is expected to remain volatile tomorrow, Monday, March 23 amid a cluster of factors, including the ongoing Middle East crisis, the rising crude oil prices, the strengthening US dollar and weakening rupee and weaker investing sentiment
1 days ago
Pisces Horoscope Today for March 23, 2026: Avoid making promises you cannot keepPisces Horoscope Today: A calm conversation with a colleague clears confusion and shows your teamwork. Published on: Mar 23, 2026 5:49 AM IST By Dr J.N Pandey Share via Copy link Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20) Daily Horoscope
1 days ago
The Biju Janata Dal on Saturday suspended six MLAs for cross-voting in favour of a Bharatiya Janata Party-backed Independent candidate in the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha. The suspended MLAs are Chakramani Kanhar (Baliguda), Naba Kishor Mallick (Jayadev)
1 days ago
Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles targeting the US-UK military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, in what appears to be a sharp escalation of the already volatile situation in West Asia. While neither missile struck the target — one malfunctioned mid-flight
1 days ago
Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka is set to join Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming Indian Premier League. He will replace the injured Sam Curran. Shanaka was previously with Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League. This move follows Blessing Muzarabani's switch from PSL to IPL
1 days ago
Piyush Goyal to finalise seat-sharing for Tamil Nadu elections today: BJPThe announcement comes amid intensifying verbal volleys between the BJP and the ruling DMK. Updated on: Mar 23, 2026 7:54 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Union minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to arrive in Chennai on Monday
1 days ago
Neymar 'practically out' of Brazil's FIFA World Cup 2026 squad: Report Updated on: Mar 23, 2026 7:24 AM IST Edited by Aratrick Mondal Share via Copy link Neymar's World Cup hopes over? (AFP) Key Takeaways Summary is AI-generated The development comes just days after Neymar was left out of the squad
1 days ago
Hair loss is no longer a concern reserved for men in their 30s or 40s. Increasingly, it is showing up much earlier, sometimes even before the age of 25. And while genetics has long been seen as the primary cause, experts say the real driver today is far more immediate: lifestyle
1 days ago
An eerie response by Anthropic’s Claude artificial intelligence has triggered a debate on social media. According to a screenshot being widely circulated, a user asked Claude about its “darkest secret" and it responded with an unexpected answer. In a seemingly poetic way
1 days ago
Under the policy, a BMI between 18 and 24.9 is classified as the “normal” and preferred range. A BMI below 18 is considered underweight, though it may still be permitted if the crew member passes a medical evaluation and functional fitness assessment.Under the policy, a BMI between 18 and 24
1 days ago
