A group of friends got together to hold an exhibition in 1996. The response was “reason enough” for Savita Chawla to carry forward an “ensemble enterprise”. Thus Simran, a customised garments store, was born. The start was small-scale, but today this fashion address at 20 Circus Avenue boasts clients like Usha Uthup. While daughter Sheetal Khanna, armed with a degree from NIFD (now iNIFD), looks after the designing aspect, Savita takes care of “finance and administration”.

The decor

The interiors are simple with red flooring and pastel walls, and wooden racks for clothes. An entrance on the left leads to the spacious tailoring zone.

The collection

The range of fabrics is rich. While georgettes, cottons and chanderis are fast-moving during summers, in winter, crepe and brocade do well. Savita sources the fabric from all over India. Jute cottons with heavy work on the neckline and georgettes embellished with sequins are just right for parties and evenings out.

Colour combinations like browns and blues, browns and reds, rust and maroon are doing well at Simran. Ari, Parsi and Kashmiri embroidery, stones, sequins and kundan work jazz up the ensembles. Foil prints and leather patches look pretty.

Once you select your fabric and choose your embroidery, Sheetal will transform your picks into tunics, kurtis, skirts, saris and salwar suits. The empire-line suits are popular right now. Corset-top silhouettes go down well with young shoppers.

The fabrics are priced at Rs 130 per metre.

t2 pick: A white corset top. The yoke is pintucked georgette and the neckline is feminine with lace trimmings. The body is cutwork cotton with a silk lining, priced at Rs 1,800