There's a certain irony in how we approach Indian summers. We reach for synthetic fabrics, light-coloured tunics, and anything labelled "cool" — while the most breathable, most elegant option has been quietly hanging in our mothers' wardrobes for decades. The handloom saree.

Natural fibres — cotton, silk-cotton, mul — breathe in a way no synthetic ever will. They wick moisture, feel soft against the skin in humidity, and — this is the part nobody talks about — they simply look better the longer you wear them. A Maheshwari silk saree shimmers differently at 9pm than it did at noon. A mul cotton settles into you over hours like a second skin.

This summer, Huts and Looms has five sarees that earn their place in every occasion in your calendar — from morning rituals to evening galas, office days to open-air weddings. Each one is handwoven, each one tells a story of craft that goes back centuries. Here's your occasion-by-occasion guide to wearing them well.