A Salwar Kameez for Ambika

With the help of her mother, Ambika designs her very own salwar kameez for her cousin’s wedding!

Ambika is visiting her mother’s home country, India, for the first time to attend her cousin’s wedding, and she needs a salwar kameez to wear to the ceremonies. She picks out the fabric in her favorite color and pattern, then chooses the length, sleeve style, and neckline that she likes best. At the wedding, she swirls around in a beautiful salwar kameez that she created—with the help of her mother and a few new friends along the way!

This sweet mother-daughter bonding tale provides a story of agency, anticipation, and reward. It is a sensory experience of the sights, textures, and sounds of the process of dressmaking in Lucknow, India, brought to life by Avneet Sandhu’s vibrant layers of textured illustrations.