Bajaj's summer hues (from above), Chopra's chogha worn by the royals

Think summer. Think pastels. Indian couture is getting ready for the soaring temperature. Quick to rise to the occasion, designers are making a beeline for the country's fashion runways to make their first impressions. The first to showcase his spring-summer collection for 2002 was J.J. Valaya, who presented his shimmery, Swarovski-encrusted collection in Delhi on March 6. As a celebration of spring, Valaya translated natural colours on to the catwalk in silks, sequins, chiffon and pastels. The show began with a preview of the Studio Valaya collection, the diffusion label from The House of Valaya. Ravi Bajaj and Vijay Arora were next in line last week. The piece de resistance in designers Shobna and Vijay Arora's collection, showcased at the French Embassy in Delhi last week, was the chogha (cape), a woven masterpiece that took them "three years" to craft. Reviving the near-forgotten technique of weaving in Benaras, it was made in conjunction with Delhi art connoisseur Martand Singh and art professor Jyotindra Jain. At the Belgian Embassy in the capital, Bajaj, known for his simple, feminine lines, showed womenswear in softer palettes: peach, aqua blue, lavender, pink, molten yellow. Apart from the fluid silhouettes in summery fabrics, animal prints and floral motifs ruled. Bajaj's classic black and white sari also made a fashionable comeback on the ramp. The prices per ensemble range from Rs 10,000-Rs 30,000, and is also available at Ffolio in Bangalore. From the looks of it, the ramp is set to get really hot this season.

SHELF LIFE

Lifestyle Art: Indi, a new store of art and design opened by NID graduates Alex Davis and Pankaj Verma, sells contemporary, relaxed furniture and lifestyle accessories in clean lines and a palette of trendy colours. If lucky, you could be walking away with some of the furniture used on the sets of two recent Hindi films Dil Chahta Hai and Monsoon Wedding. The designers claim that Indi is "about India". At 143, Shahpur Jat Village, Delhi-49. Call: (011) 6495473.

Be Yourself: Raymond has opened its second design studio "Be" in Delhi. The first is at Ansal Plaza. Pick up prêt-designer lines of 12 Indian designers at not-so-wild prices: Rohit Bal, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Raghuvendra Rathore,
Manju Bobby Grover... at 5/69, W.E.A, Padam Singh Road, Karol Bagh.

MTV Style: Like all other fashion houses, MTV presents its spring-summer lines based on the funky themes Wild Flowers and Club Tropicana. Look cool in slim capris, low-slung hipsters, boat-necked raglans and tiny tees. Available in 260 outlets across India, even Haridwar!

TREND SPEAK

"Indian furniture preferences will continue to be contemporary. Eclectic variations will be the best examples of style. I can see a lot of natural wood, stainless steel and chrome taking over in interior design."
Raseel Gujral, interior designer

BAZAAR trail

Bangle-wagon: If you're into exotic shopping trails, here's an idea. Ballimaran Street in Delhi's Chandni Chowk is narrow and squalid -the only way to get there is by a cycle-rickshaw-but Babu Ram Churiwala's bangle shop is a riot of colour. No more than four feet wide, it has an array of ethnic wares. Squat on the small wooden bench as you sift through his cut glass, acrylic and designer zardozi bangles. Babu Ram has celebrity regulars and has shown at Indian festivals abroad. His speciality is that he handcrafts the bangles himself. Cost: Rs 20 to Rs 1,500 per dozen. Worth a try.