For first-time wearers
You don’t need to be Indian to wear what we make.
You only need to be invited to a wedding, drawn to a festival, or moved by craft that takes a hundred human hands to finish. A short guide to the occasions, the garments, and how to wear them — without jargon, without pressure.
Begin here
A few things to know before you scroll.
Indian wear is occasion-led, not season-led. Forget spring/summer/winter. We organise our site by occasion — festive, sangeet, mehendi, reception, cocktail, everyday — because that’s how the wardrobe actually gets used.
Custom-stitching is normal. Most Indian wear is made to measure. Our standard lead time for custom pieces is 4-8 weeks. We’ll help you measure, with video guides if needed.
You can ask anything. Message us on WhatsApp and someone — often Ketaki herself — will reply within twelve business hours. There is no such thing as a stupid question about Indian wear, especially the first time.
Cultural respect, not cultural permission. No tradition has a velvet rope. Wear it well — properly draped, properly fitted, with care — and you’re honouring the craft, not appropriating it.
The garments
What you might wear, and what it actually is.
Saree
A 5-9 yard length of unstitched cloth, draped around the body and over the shoulder. The pallu (the decorative end) goes over the shoulder.
Worn by women across India for over 2,000 years. Universally appropriate for any formal Indian occasion.
Lehenga
A two- or three-piece outfit: a full skirt (lehenga), a fitted blouse (choli), and a draped scarf (dupatta).
The north Indian festive workhorse — sangeet, Diwali, reception. Heavier than a saree, easier to wear if you're unfamiliar with draping.
Anarkali
A long, flared kurta that falls to ankle length, worn with churidar pants and a dupatta. Inspired by the courtesan-dancer of the same name from Mughal-era Lahore.
Daytime-friendly. Mehendi, haldi, Eid lunches, festive evenings. Lighter than a lehenga.
Sherwani
A long structured coat for men, worn over a kurta with churidar or straight pants. The Indian equivalent of a tuxedo.
Grooms, groomsmen, formal weddings. Pair with a dupatta or stole at receptions.
Kurta set
A simpler matched set — kurta (long shirt) with pants. Comes in everything from cotton everyday to silk festive.
Everyday wear, casual festive, workplace appropriate.
Indo-western gown
A fusion piece — Western silhouette (gown, jumpsuit) in Indian fabric (bandhani, banarasi) with Indian detailing.
Cocktail, reception, modern bride after-party. The bridge between two worlds.
The occasions
And what they actually are.
01
Sangeet
Music + dancing the night before the wedding. Loud, fun, often a hotel ballroom or function space. Wear: a saree or lehenga you can move in.
02
Mehendi
Henna application for the bride, daytime, garden or terrace. Wear: an anarkali or lighter saree — comfortable, sit-cross-legged-friendly.
03
Haldi
Turmeric blessing ceremony before the wedding, daytime, often outdoor. Wear: yellow or marigold tones, light fabric, something you don't mind getting splashed.
04
Reception
Post-wedding evening party. Often Western-formal mixed with Indo-western. Wear: cocktail-tier lehenga, sherwani, or Indo-western gown.
05
Engagement
Formal occasion-wear — somewhere between sangeet and reception. Wear: a sangeet-tier lehenga or formal saree.
06
Diwali
Hindu festival of light, usually October-November. Family dinners, dance, fireworks. Wear: festive saree or kurta set in jewel tones.
Still unsure?
Message Ketaki on WhatsApp. Tell her the occasion. She’ll find something close — or design it.