The Fabric Question Comes First
Cotton feels like the obvious answer for Indian heat, but in monsoon conditions it is the wrong one. Cotton absorbs moisture and holds it, a wet cotton kurta stays wet for hours, clings, and in hill stations like Coorg or Munnar, drops your body temperature fast enough to ruin the afternoon. The fabrics that actually work are linen (dries faster than cotton, breathes well, and looks put-together even slightly rumpled), synthetic blends marketed as quick-dry or moisture-wicking, and georgette for women who want something light enough to pack into a corner of a bag and pull out wrinkle-free.
