For the fourth consecutive year, fashion designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla will make history [for India] at the Oscars.

But, before that here's the tidbit: they have designed a classic sari for Lagaan director Ashutosh Gowariker's wife, Sunita. Lagaan, produced by Aamir Khan is nominated as Best Foreign Film at the 74th Annual Academy Awards.

Sunita will be wearing an off-white chikan sari with an embroidered blouse to match. Abu-Sandeep are famous for their revival of chikan, a delicate style of embroidery which evolved in Lucknow in the 18th century. Chikan ensembles are usually considered summer wear.

But the designers claim, 'Chikan is an all-time classic style statement.'

And here's the slice of history: Dame Judi Dench will wear an Abu-Sandeep creation this year, making it the fourth time. Dame Judi wore chikan at the recent BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards, where she won the Best Actress Award for her performance in Iris.

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla were part of Oscar history in 1999, when Drench won the Best Supporting Actress for Shakespeare In Love, wearing dhaka-embroidered gown that the duo had designed. Since then, Drench has been wearing their creations every year at the Oscars.

This year, the designers have presented Dame Judi with three options: a black ensemble with jet stone embroidery, pastel chandelier (the chandelier line is an all-pastel line in georgette with crystal embroidery) or a black phulwari (flower patterns on translucent georgette fabric, in self colours and pastels.

The duo has also designed a creation for Jenny Beaven, Oscar nominee for Best Costume Designer for Robert Altman's Gosford Park. She will be wear a multicoloured dhaka on tissue. 'It is a pleasure having a costume designer wear our creation,' they state.

Working on Oscar outfits is quite challenging, they admit, as they have to be ready in two weeks. But the designers state, 'these women have their own classic style and they know what they want. So that makes it easier.'