6. You can actually wear a sari without a blouse and a petticoatThe sari was worn without a blouse and petticoat before the British Raj. During the prudish Victorian era, baring one’s chest or being blouseless was seen as improper, so the Raj promoted the wearing of blouses and petticoats with ruffled hems. The result? Even today, most people wear the sari with a blouse and petticoat. But none of the regional sari drapes actually require a petticoat, and many can be worn without a blouse.
7. The sari supports millions of handloom weavers in India
Although current records in India don’t provide exact numbers, textile scholars and craft advocates are in agreement that sari-weaving comprises a sizeable portion of the handloom and embroidery sector in India. According to the Textile Ministry Annual Report 2016, current estimates put the number of craftspeople employed by the industry at 11 million.
8. The sari and its place in society is actively being discussed and questioned
For several years now, Western culture has been seen as aspirational, and this has had a huge effect on India’s sartorial choices. Especially in cities, more and more people are moving towards garments that are perceived to be easier to wear, including pants, shirts and the salwar kameez, with the sari reserved for special occasions.
However, many contemporary designers in India are experimenting with the sari. It remains a point of keen interest for many young designers – with new iterations and fabrications including steel, parachute nylon and ‘sari-dresses’.
India’s design community feels that this debate around tradition vs. change has been had ad nauseam, but most are also aware of how important it is to recognize this important shift in textiles and garment aesthetics.
However, many contemporary designers in India are experimenting with the sari. It remains a point of keen interest for many young designers – with new iterations and fabrications including steel, parachute nylon and ‘sari-dresses’.
India’s design community feels that this debate around tradition vs. change has been had ad nauseam, but most are also aware of how important it is to recognize this important shift in textiles and garment aesthetics.
9. Saris are sentimental
Saris often evoke a feeling of nostalgia and memory, associating certain saris with particular moments or events, or with the memory of your grandmother, for example. Saris are often passed down from one generation to the next, as part of a wedding trousseau or given as gifts for milestone moments.
As well as being purely functional garments, like many aspects of our clothes, saris are deeply connected to our memory and identity.
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