My personal style is: Easy, classic, minimalist.
My personal style icon: Nargis.
An item in my wardrobe that means a lot to me: My mother’s wedding sari. It’s a beautiful vermillion Benarasi with ‘kadwa’ work and an absolutely stunning pallu.
Anavila’s parents on their wedding day. Her mother’s Benarasi sari with ‘kadwa’ work
My favourite souvenir from my travels is: An indigo tapestry fabric I picked up in Myanmar.
The best gift I have received: My first fountain pen from my father.
The best gift I have given: When I started working as a menswear designer, I gifted a shirt designed by me to my father. It was beautiful.
The last thing I bought: Books, I love to read and collect books. I feel like I travel to faraway places and learn about lost worlds when I read.
The last book I read: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, by Harper Lee, and ‘The Language of Flowers’ by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
The last film I loved: ‘The Passion of Joan of Arc’ by Carl Theodor Dreyer, I revisited this movie a couple of days back. It disturbed me and was greatly unsettling, but spiritually moving at the same time.
My Spotify list would include these songs: Almost all songs from the movie ‘Queen’, Punjabi folk, songs by Jagjit Singh, Rekha Bharadwaj, Piyush Mishra, U2, Coldplay, and Dave Mathews Band. I love music so this list is diverse.
My beauty/ wellness routine is: Yoga, long walks, hydration and sunscreen.
My favourite holiday destination: Himachal. I love how beautiful and serene Himachal is. Its remote villages and simple, hospitable locals make my stay in Himachal an unforgettable one always.
I love to collect: Books.
My fridge always has: Coconut water.
Minimalism or maximalism: Minimalism.
My home looks like: Comfortable and lived in with a whiff of places I have visited, as I always carry something for home on all my travels.
The designer’s home
My favourite mix of traditional and contemporary is: A linen sari.
Linen sari by Anavila
My best ideas come when: I am walking in the midst of nature. Walking helps me realign myself. My best ideas come here.
The best way to spend Rs 20,000 is: By buying gifts.
My idea of happiness is: Family and nature.