New Delhi, Feb. 27 -- Judging by recent runway showcases, a trend is becoming clear: clothes with space to move. Clothes with boxy or free-flowing silhouettes offer a quiet sexiness and elegance without drowning the wearer.

A decade ago, fashion screamed quite the opposite. Skinny jeans ruled, whether you were headed to the office or a shopping mall. Fitted kurtas and dresses were the default, alongside saris, for festivals, parties and weddings. So when Nicobar entered the market in 2016, combining traditional textiles like cotton and silk with relaxed cuts and contemporary shapes, it struck a chord with well-travelled Indians looking for elevated everyday clothes.

Without the heavy price tags of established designers, its shirts, dres...