Postcards from India: A glimpse of the season ahead

I have recently returned from India with a suitcase full of samples, hundreds of photographs and so many exciting things to share with you.

My trips to India are always incredibly busy. There are collections to check, colours to approve, samples to fit and new ideas to explore. But they are also an opportunity to spend time with the talented people who bring our designs to life, and to experience the extraordinary creativity and craftsmanship that continually inspire Dilli Grey.

This trip took me from Delhi to Jaipur, working on the collections that will carry us through autumn and winter, as well as beginning to shape Spring Summer 2027. Here is a little glimpse behind the scenes, and a taste of what is coming next.

First stop: Our master block printers

My first visit was to our master block printers outside Delhi, a female-owned company whose team produces some of our most exquisite hand block-printed collections.

There is something very special about seeing a new collection together for the first time. Designs that have existed as sketches, colour references and individual fabric swatches are suddenly hanging together on a rail, each piece revealing how the whole story has come to life.

The new collection is rich in colour, print and beautiful artisan detail, but it has also been designed to feel wonderfully wearable. These are pieces to bring personality to the colder months, while still fitting easily into the way we really dress.

I took a photograph of the rail while I was there, so consider this your first little sneak peek of what is coming.

A winter collection shaped by you

Next, I met with another of our artisan partners to check the progress of a new embroidery collection, which will begin arriving in October.

This collection has been designed around everything you told me in our customer survey. An incredible number of you took the time to share what you wanted to see from Dilli Grey, and I read every response.

You asked us for more knitwear, relaxed dresses, cord dresses, quilted jackets, embroidered blouses and beautiful separates that could be styled with pieces you already own. You also told us that you wanted rich winter colour, natural fibres and designs that felt special without being difficult to wear.

I carried all of this with me while designing the new season.

The result is a much broader winter wardrobe, with jackets, blouses, separates and the return of our much-loved cord dresses. We have also been exploring some wonderful new fabrications, bringing together texture, embroidery and print in ways that feel distinctly Dilli Grey.

It was incredibly exciting to see the pieces taking shape, and even better knowing that they have been created in direct response to what you asked us for.

A return to my knitwear roots

Another very special part of the trip was meeting with our wonderful supplier from Kashmir.

Many of you will already know our hand-loomed cashmere scarves, which return every winter in carefully chosen colours. This season we have been developing the collection further, with new featherweight cashmere wraps, merino wool ponchos and, for the first time, knitwear.

Knitwear has a particularly personal significance for me. Long before I founded Dilli Grey, I worked as a knitwear buyer, so this feels like a return to my roots. I have always loved the way beautiful yarn, colour and silhouette can come together to create something that feels both luxurious and completely effortless to wear.

Working directly with our supplier in Kashmir has allowed us to develop pieces with a real understanding of the fibres and the craftsmanship behind them. We have started with simple, generous shapes in beautiful colours, designed to layer with the rest of the Dilli Grey collection.

Our first new winter layers have just arrived, and there are some very special coordinating pieces following next week.

On to Jaipur

From Delhi, I travelled to Jaipur, a city that is at the heart of so much of what we do.

Discovering Jaipur’s jewellery traditions

This trip also gave me the opportunity to explore Jaipur’s extraordinary jewellery-making heritage. I spent time with skilled jewellers, learning more about the gemstones, traditional techniques and tiny details that give each piece its individual character. This was where our new jewellery collection really came to life, from colourful everyday pieces to beautiful one-of-a-kind necklaces and bracelets, handmade using carefully combined semi-precious stones. I came home with a much deeper appreciation for the knowledge and craftsmanship behind every piece, as well as plenty of ideas for where we might take the collection next. There is so much more to show you and new collections will be landing very soon...

 

Block printing heaven

Jaipur is filled with colour, pattern and creativity. It is one of the historic homes of Indian block printing, and every visit offers something new to notice, whether it is an unexpected colour combination, an old carved printing block or rows of freshly printed fabric drying in the sunshine.

While I was there, I spent time checking our new sleepwear collection. We looked at prints, ginghams, piping colours, embroidery, trims and all the tiny details that make a Dilli Grey nightie, robe or pair of pyjamas feel special.

At the same time, we began working on Spring Summer 2027. Developing a collection this far ahead can feel slightly surreal when we are only just moving into autumn, but this is where the process begins. Fabrics are spread across tables, colours are adjusted, print scales are discussed and samples are pinned and repinned until everything starts to feel right.

These working days are often long, but they are also some of my favourites. I love being able to make decisions alongside our printers and makers, responding to the cloth in front of me and seeing ideas begin to take physical form.

What comes next

I returned home feeling exhausted, inspired and incredibly excited about the season ahead.

There is so much coming to Dilli Grey over the next few months: hand block-printed collections, beautiful embroidery, jackets, blouses, cord dresses, sleepwear, cashmere, jewellery and our very first knitwear.

Although the collections are varied, the intention behind them is the same. I want to create beautiful, artisan-made pieces that bring colour and individuality to everyday life, while remaining comfortable, useful and easy to wear.

This trip was an important reminder that every Dilli Grey piece is the result of many conversations, many skilled hands and a great deal of care. I cannot wait to begin sharing the finished collections with you.

For now, I hope you enjoy this first little glimpse.

With love,

Vickie x