Best Summer Fabrics in India & Which One’s to Avoid (2025)

Summer is getting hotter with 2025 set to be the next hottest year after 2023 for India. Stepping outside feels like stepping in a microwave oven and if you dare to wear 100% polyester fabric clothes, even the best of deodorants cannot save you from sweating. Choosing the right summer-friendly fabric isn’t as simple as it seems. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best fabrics to wear in Indian summers in 2025 - along with the ones you should definitely avoid. We’ll discuss everything from breathability, comfort to style for these top 9 best summer fabrics in India.

Table of contents:

• Best fabrics for summer in India in 2025

• Recommendations to buy best summer clothes (for each material)

• Fabrics to avoid wearing in summer

Cotton, a 100% natural fibre obtained from cotton plants is the 2nd most used fibre in the entire world as per a recent stat by Textile Exchange. Our country India is one of the biggest producers of cotton in the entire world. Cotton has always been considered the best fabric to wear in summer. Here’s why:

• Cotton has a hollow fibre structure which makes it more breathable

• Cotton contains looser weaves making it more airy & soft

• Being a natural fibre, it doesn’t trap heat.

Bottom line: If you are looking for the best fabrics for summer in India, opt for 100% cotton shirts, t-shirts, pyjamas for lounge wear. For formals or casual wear, opt for clothes with higher cotton content (70%)

These days we are seeing a trend of wearing oversized clothing so you can opt for cotton-made loose-breathable tops & pants (would recommend checking out Uniqlo’s linen cotton top or Uniqlo’s bra top & Cottonworld 100% cotton pants & Biba Kurti-inspired Top). For formal wear, you can also top a breathable cotton tank top with a blazer (optional) while men can prefer 100% cotton tees & shirts for office wear or rock premium cotton pyjama bottoms from Marks & Spencer or go with Damensch pants or super comfy Cotton Baggy Jeans if tight on budget.

Coming to the next best fabric for summer in India is Linen. Fun fact, Linen in ancient times was sometimes used as a currency in Egypt. Aditya Birla Fashion claims to be the largest producer of Linen in India. It is a natural fibre obtained from flax plant which is soaked in water for days until its outer stalk becomes soft enough to crush & comb to separate linen fibres. This is why you also might have observed, linen fabrics usually get softer after every wash. It has excellent air circulation, feels slightly rough at first (becomes softer overtime) and can absorb moisture as good as cotton. This is what makes Linen one of the best clothes to wear in a hot climate.

Women

Viscose Linen Vero Moda Co-ord Set

Marks & Spencer Pure Flax Linen Shirt

Gap V-neck Crop Top

Men

Cotton World 100% Linen Casual Shirt

The Lifestyle Co Linen Relaxed-Fit Regular Trousers

Another great fabric to wear in a hot summer is Poplin, specifically a Poplin fabric made from cotton. Unlike cotton, poplin is not a material/fibre in itself, rather poplin is a type of weave/a type of fabric which can be made from wool, cotton, silk, etc. Poplin fabric made from cotton is super soft and has a slightly denser weave than cotton making it a medium-weight fabric that drapes well & has a more smoother feel - good for casual / office-wear clothing in summer. Cotton-made Poplin fabrics are one of the best cloths in summer due to their above average airy-ness, breathability and absorption.

Linen is more breathable & textured or coarser than Poplin. If you need a fabric to keep you cool, go with Linen. If you need a fabric that keeps you moderately cool but also looks finer, feels more smoother, creases less, go with Poplin.

Women

• H&M Poplin Shirt Dress

• Zara Poplin Dresses

• Poplin Square Neck Midi Dress

Men

• H&M Loose-fit textured shirt

• Lacoste Men’s Poplin Shirt

• Souled Store Cotton Poplin Cargo Pants

Moving to the best summer fabrics in India, how could we miss out on a gem of our own - Khadi. Khadi is a natural, hand-woven fabric made from cotton, wool or silk. It is probably the only fabric in the world which has its own logo. Yes, GOV of India has registered the trademark logo of ‘Khadi India.’ Coming to wearing khadi fabric in summer & why it is much better than other fabrics like Polyester, Nylon, Acrylic etc is because Khadi is naturally breathable and has great absorbent properties.

Natural Khadi is usually a bit thicker (being handmade & woven). However, it is still a breathable fabric compared to Polyester, Nylon & most synthetic fabrics. It also has excellent moisture absorption properties & quick-drying features. For summer, cotton-made khadi fabrics are great while for winters, one can opt for woolen-khadi fabrics.

Women:

Khadi Saree for Women

Stylecast Khadi Collar Top

The Summer House Khadi Reeves Top

Men

Short Khadi Weave Kurta

Turtle Relaxed Khadi Shirt

Terra Luna Moon-print Khadi Trousers

Also read: Best formal wear brands for men

Hemp Fabric is similar to jute, flax and bamboo fabrics. Made from Cannabis Sativa, Hemp is a natural fabric which offers excellent breathability and moisture absorption. In 2025, there’s also a fashion trend of wearing Hemp fabrics globally. Thanks to it being one of the most sustainable fabrics to wear. Hemp is also 2-3 times stronger than cotton and thus lasts more than 100% cotton fabrics. So if you are looking to wear a comfortable, breathable fabric that keeps you cool in summer, Hemp might just be up your alley.

Hemp can be a great fabric for summer tank tops and t-shirts or shorts and trousers.

Women

B-Label Kimono Hemp Top for Women

Creatures of Habit Hemp Tank Top

Men

Hemp Cotton Shirt with Embroidered Pockets

Hemp Bowling Shirt

Men 100% Hemp Casual Shirt

Mulmul fabric is again one of the best summer fabrics to wear in India due to its ultra-soft texture, super-lightweight and an airy feel. Mulmul Kurtis, Anarkalis, Dresses and Sarees are quite a trending fashion in 2025. Mulmul is a soft & fine weave of cotton yarns and is also referred as muslin (though both aren’t always the same). There’s also a homegrown Indian label called “Mulmul” that especially specializes in this fabric. If you are planning to shop some cool summer wear clothes in mulmul fabric, Mulmul brand might be up your alley.

Women

Mulmul Kurta Set

House of Chikankari Mulmul Fabric Kurta

Mulmul Cotton Co-ord Set

Men

Printed Mulmul Shirt

Also read: Best formal wear brands for women in India

Seersucker might sound like a new name to most but it is one of the most lightweight & airy fabrics to opt for in summers. It is a puckered cotton fabric with a crinkled texture which is weaved using a special technique called slack-tension weave. It is known as no-iron fabric too and thanks to its crinkled texture that keeps it away from sticking to the body, Seersucker is one of the best clothing fabrics to wear in summers in India. In 2025, there’s also a trend of wearing seersucker blazers and shirts and t-shirts.

Women

Seersucker Calf Length Side Slit Dress

Dressberry Seersucker Top

Puff-sleeve Pure Cotton A-line Dress

Men

Mango Man Textured Casual Shirt

White Checks Seersucker Long-Sleeve Shirt

Seersucker Casual Blazer

Tommy Hilfiger Cotton Seersucker Casual Shirt

H&M Seersucker Trousers

Rare Rabbit Seersucker Box T-shirt

Also read: Best track pants for men in India

As we are coming closer to the end of our list of the best fabrics in summer to wear, expect to see names you may not have heard in the mainstream fashion magazines. Some of these names not only have a rich history behind them but are also a gift to the world from our own country, India. Bamboo Fabric is a soft, eco-friendly fabric made from the Bamboo fibres. Bamboo pulp is processed into fibres which are then spun into yarn. It is considered to be a “catalyst” in the sustainable fashion industry in 2025. Coming to what makes it a good summer fabric to wear, Bamboo Fabric is breathable, moisture-wicking & antibacterial. It doesn’t absorb moisture as well as cotton fabrics do. But it is still a better fabric to wear in summer compared to others.

Women

Pomelo Bamboo Fabric Puff Dress

Kook N Keech Oversized T-shirt

Forever New Bamboo Fabric High-rise Pants

Men

Freecultr Bamboo Fabric Antimicrobial T-shirt

Damensch Bamboo Fabric Vest

Stylecast Bamboo Fabric Joggers

Domin18 Bamboo Cotton T-shirt

Last but not the least, the best fabric to wear in summer in India is Chambray. It is as soft as cotton and smooth as linen. At the same time, Chambray fabric gives a great denim look. The best part is that Chambray fabric gives you the best of the both worlds - softness & breathability from cotton and smoothness from its plain weave structure. If you are looking to shop for a cool, comfortable cloth to wear in summer, Chambray fabric tops, t-shirts & clothing is a must to consider.

Women

Moda Rapido Pure Cotton Chambray Shirt

Levis Pure Cotton Puff Sleeve Dress

Men

Roadster & Co Chambray Denim Casual Shirt

Chambray Fabric Embroidered T-shirt

• Polyester

• Nylon

• Acrylic

• Silk (heavy/raw silk)

• Velvet

• Faux Leather (PU Leather)

• Satin (polyester-based)

• Georgette (synthetic versions)

• Chiffon (if polyester-based)

• Denim (heavy-weight varieties)

• Brocade (due to its dense weave)

• Organza (typically synthetic and less breathable)

Also read:

Best Deodorants for Women in India 2025

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