Biba has been in the Indian ethnic wear market since 1988 and they have a loyal customer base for good reason — their printed cotton kurtas are genuinely well made and their sizing is among the most consistent I've encountered at this price tier. But the brand has been expanding aggressively into 'festive' and 'premium' categories that don't reflect the same quality standards. I tested pieces from both their core range and the newer offerings.
| Kurta Style | Fabric | Price (Rs) | Quality (1-10) | Sizing | Recommend? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printed Straight Cotton Kurta | 100% Cotton | 699 | 8 | True to size | Strongly yes |
| Anarkali with Dupatta | Rayon blend | 1,299 | 7 | True to size | Yes |
| Embroidered Straight Kurta | Cotton blend | 999 | 7 | Slightly large | Yes with caveats |
| Festive Embellished Kurta | Polyester georgette | 1,499 | 4 | Runs small | No |
| Linen Look Straight Kurta | Linen-viscose blend | 849 | 7 | True to size | Yes |
| A-Line Printed Kurta | 100% Cotton | 749 | 8 | True to size | Yes |
| Premium Chanderi Kurta | Chanderi cotton | 1,199 | 6 | Slightly stiff fit | Marginal |
| Sharara Set (Festive) | Net overlay + polyester | 1,549 | 4 | Inconsistent | No — overpriced for quality |
The Good
Biba's printed cotton kurtas — the straight-cut and A-line styles in the Rs 699-849 range — are the backbone of the brand and they deliver consistently. The cotton is 120-count or better, block prints are registered cleanly with no significant bleeding after three washes, and the stitching at underarm seams (the first place cheap kurtas fall apart) is reinforced. These are the kurtas that built Biba's reputation, and they still deserve it.
The anarkali with dupatta at Rs 1,299 was a pleasant surprise. The rayon blend drapes well and doesn't wrinkle as badly as pure rayon typically does. The dupatta matched the kurta color closely — something that sounds basic but is genuinely rare among brands in this price range. I wore this for a four-hour family lunch and it held up without the fabric pulling or the dupatta fraying at the edges.
Sizing consistency deserves its own mention. Across six of the eight pieces I bought, Biba's size M fit exactly as expected based on their measurements (bust 36", waist 30", hip 38"). This kind of reliability is genuinely unusual at this price point — Libas, for instance, is wildly inconsistent even within the same collection. If you've found your Biba size once, you can reorder online with confidence.
The Bad
The festive embellished kurta at Rs 1,499 was the worst value of the eight. The polyester georgette base fabric felt stiff and synthetic, and the embellishments — a mix of sequins and mirror work — were glued rather than sewn in multiple places. I could see the glue residue on the inside of the kurta. After one wear and a gentle hand wash, four sequins had detached. This is not Rs 1,499 quality — Biba's festive range appears to be manufactured to a different (lower) standard than their everyday wear.
The sharara set was similarly disappointing. The net overlay on the kurta snagged easily — within one evening of wear, I had two pulls in the fabric from brushing against normal surfaces. The polyester underskirt generated significant static electricity indoors. At Rs 1,549, this is competing with much better options from brands like INDYA or Aks. Biba should not be in this category.
Biba's website photography can be misleading in the other direction — some items appear richer and darker in photos than they are in person. The chanderi kurta I bought looked a deep teal online but arrived in a noticeably lighter, washed-out blue-green. The fabric itself was decent chanderi cotton, but the colour disappointment soured the experience.
biba
BIBA Women's Cotton Straight Printed Kurta
biba
BIBA Women's Cotton Printed Kurta Set with Dupatta
libas
Libas Women's Embroidered Cotton Straight Kurta with Palazzos & Dupatta
libas
Libas Women's Cotton Printed Kurta Set Multicoloured
Value for Money
The sub-Rs 1,000 cotton kurtas from Biba are among the best value ethnic wear available at their price point in India. The Rs 1,000-1,500 range is a mixed bag — some pieces justify the price, others don't. Anything labelled 'festive', 'premium', or involving heavy embellishment from Biba is, in my experience, overpriced for the quality delivered. You'd do better spending Rs 1,500-2,000 at a brand like W or Fabindia for special occasion pieces.
Who Should Buy
- Daily office and casual wear buyers who want reliable cotton kurtas that survive regular washing without losing their shape or colour
- Petite to medium frame women — Biba's cuts work particularly well for this body type, and their size range goes from XS to 3XL with reasonable accuracy
- Anyone building a capsule ethnic wardrobe on a Rs 3,000-4,000 budget — four good Biba cotton kurtas will last two to three years with proper care
- Those who shop online frequently and hate return hassle — Biba's sizing consistency means fewer surprises
Skip If
- You need festive or wedding-occasion ethnic wear — Biba's embellished range is genuinely not worth the money and there are far better options
- You prefer natural, artisan fabrics like pure silk, handloom, or block-print cotton from craft clusters — Biba's production is industrialised and lacks that handmade character
- You're tall (5'7" and above) — Biba's kurta lengths tend to run shorter, and I consistently found the length worked better for shorter frames
OUR VERDICT
Biba earns a genuine recommendation for their printed cotton kurtas up to Rs 1,000 — these are well-made, reliable, and good value. Above that price point, the brand becomes inconsistent, and their festive range is one to avoid entirely. Buy Biba for your everyday ethnic rotation; look elsewhere for special occasions.