Stripes, swirls, seashells and a razzle-dazzle of punchy hues: summer style in 2025 is all about wearing a cornucopia of colour on your own terms. From Kolkata to Colombia, we speak to designers on the rise about how they are incorporating pattern and pigment into their summer collections. Within their new offerings are some of the season’s most popular styles – from contemporary takes on bohemia to summer’s trending tomato-red hue.
Sruti Dalmia
“Intuitive, forgiving and feminine without effort.” That’s how Kolkata-born Sruti Dalmia designs her clothing. Her namesake label presents shirt-dresses that you can wear by the pool, or to a special-occasion dinner, mastering the beautiful balance between prettiness and practicality, while also offering key staples for modest wardrobes.
Photo: Sruti Dalmia
Her latest pieces capture the essence of youth – not as an age or number, but rather, as a feeling. “It’s that fearless, radiant energy we carry when we’re fully alive,” she shares, creating garments that evoke joy and spontaneity. Midi dresses with wrap-front necklines and belted waists, in hues ranging from butter yellow to bright fuchsia feature fresh prints – from floral pathways to poetic verses.
Designs by Dalmia are intended to make you feel seen without shouting, and her soft yet purposeful prints are consciously woven into this effort. “I’m drawn to the idea of fabric as a surface for emotion – that’s why I’ve started printing poetic texts directly onto dresses. They become walking diaries, fragments of thought that move with you. It’s about making something not just beautiful, but meaningful,” she reflects. Dalmia selects textiles not only for their function and convenience, but also, for the deeper messages they carry: “I love fabrics that feel like home – breathable, tactile and easy against the skin. Linens that rumple beautifully, and cottons that carry a memory, silks that respond to light.”
Shop Sruti Dalmia here.
Cala De La Cruz
For chic resortwear that epitomises island elegance, look no further than Colombian label Cala De La Cruz. Bandeau dresses, tunics and separates serve as both beachside cover-ups and statement resort dining looks. “I’m drawn to structured ease – silhouettes that frame the body with clarity but never restriction,” explains creative director Carolina Lopez. “This season, I love a strong square neckline paired with a fluid open skirt. It’s that balance of architectural shape and airy movement that defines summer for us: polished yet completely effortless.”
Photo: Cala de La Cruz
