Nora Tie Neck Blouse, Red

The Nora is very much Sloane Ranger territory, and we are here for it. A relaxed, voluminous blouse in a rich red hand block-printed cotton, scattered with little cream sprigs, with a high ruffled collar that's a lovely nod to the pie crust collars of old. Then comes the finishing touch: a black velvet ribbon at the neck that you tie into a bow, as neat or as floppy as you like.

Ruffles run over the shoulders, the sleeves are full and gather into elasticated cuffs, and the whole thing has an easy, generous shape that's comfortable to wear all day. It's 100% cotton, so it breathes beautifully. Tuck it into cords with a pair of trainers and you're off to a country pub lunch. Add a heel and you're off to a Christmas party.

The heritage behind it: Maison de Belle describes itself as “London Soul, Indian Craft”, and the story behind it is a lovely one. It was born from a dream that refused to fade. Its founder grew up in Assam, captivated by the artistry of Indian textiles: the patience of the craftsman's hand and the rhythm of wooden blocks meeting cloth. Fashion wasn't a path the founder was allowed to follow back then, so the dream was tucked away and carried to the UK, and years later it was finally answered.

Every piece is printed by hand with hand-carved wooden blocks, using methods refined over generations, by small family-run workshops where printing is both livelihood and legacy. These are courtyards and small studios, not factories, and by working with them Maison de Belle is helping to keep a beautiful craft alive. The fabrics are deadstock, high-quality cloth that would otherwise go to landfill, so only a few pieces of each design are ever made. When it sells out, it's gone.

And because every block is pressed by hand, no two prints are ever perfectly identical. That's not a flaw. It's the signature of something made by people, not machines.