Written by: Lifestyle Desk
3 min readNew DelhiApr 27, 2025 02:30 PM IST
First published on: Apr 27, 2025 at 02:30 PM IST
As Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issues warnings about the heatwaves in the coming months, it is important to be prepared for the scorching heat. With the tropical sun over your head, what you wear can make all the difference! Wearing wrong fabrics can ruin your day—they can overheat your body and trigger excessive sweating. Switching up your wardrobe with breathable fabrics can help you beat the summer!
Fabrics like cotton, linen are ideal for Indian summers while synthetic fabrics do not let the skin breathe. In collaboration with fashion experts, Indian Express Lifestyle desk has curated a list of fabrics that you can wear during summer to stay cool and comfortable:
Cotton: India is one of the world’s largest producers of cotton. Cotton and summer are synonymous in India. Shikha Nanda, founder of Sitarraa, says, “Cotton is a summer classic, it’s lightweight, breathable, and keeps the skin cool even on the hottest days.”
Linen: For Shikha Nanda, Linen is a relaxed elegance. She explains “It’s airy, naturally absorbent and gets softer with every wear, perfect for Indian summers.”
Aparajita Sengupta, Senior Director of Creative and Curation at Myntra recommends Voile, a semi-sheer fabric that is naturally breathable, and absorb moisture, making them ideal for warm-weather dressing.
Tencel: Our expert also suggest Tencel, a sustainable fabric perfect for summers. Aparajita Sengupta shares, “it offers a silky feel with high breathability and moisture-wicking properties.”
Mulmul: Mulmul, a fabric originated in Bengal and popularly known as the ‘woven wind’. According to Shikha Nanda it is perfect for our climate because of its soft, feather-light texture. It lets the skin breathe and is gentle on it.
Chanderi: A luxurious fabric from the town of Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh. Shikha Nanda adds that Chanderi is light, has a lovely sheen, and doesn’t stick to the body, making it ideal for joyous summer events.
Handwoven Khadi: Khadi, a symbol of swadeshi is a popular fabric across India. It has a beautiful texture, it’s handspun, super breathable and keeps you comfortable while making a quiet statement, says fashion experts.
Choosing the right fabrics is essential in summer to stay cool, comfortable while also maintaining style. However, our fashion experts warn about wearing heavy synthetics like Polyester, during summer, as they trap heat and do not let the skin breathe.
Here is a list of best fabrics to wear in summer to stay cool
(Source-Freepik) 
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