Who says a sari is just for the ‘older’ crowd? A quick look around and you’ll see youngsters embracing the nine-yard like never before. Laces, ruffles, nets for embellishments, pockets for utility, Nehru jackets for blouses and jersey for fabric — the sari is anything but bland and boring.
Getting experimental
Upcoming designer and actress Neena Gupta’s daughter Masaba Gupta has designed pocket saris that she plans to launch at the upcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. “Saris are generally difficult to manage. Today’s youngsters look for comfort and utility. A pocket to keep your essentials like mobile, wallet and make-up, comes in handy,” she says.
Masaba plans to team them up with bikini tops and sheer blouses. Kolkata-based designer Kiran Uttam Ghosh experimented with Nehru coats for blouses and accessorised the look with a hat. Ghosh has already sold unembellished pleated saris in strong colours teamed with T-shirts as cholis. Her saris with borders made of fabric borrowed from “a typical menswear element” such as pinstripes have been much in demand. Next on her agenda is a jersey sari with ruffles.
Wear without fear
Designer Ritu Beri’s skirt saris are a big seller abroad. “It’s a mermaid sari with ruffled petticoat and stole that is attached to the sari and drapes around like a pallu,” says Beri. “Such experimentation makes the nine-yard less intimidating for youngsters who’re conscious of the pleats (they might just come off) and the drape.” Beri feels an edgy, trendy broach adds to the chutzpah element of the sari and a jacket as a replacement for blouse (in winters) makes it more wearable.
Wear without fear
Designer Ritu Beri’s skirt saris are a big seller abroad. “It’s a mermaid sari with ruffled petticoat and stole that is attached to the sari and drapes around like a pallu,” says Beri. “Such experimentation makes the nine-yard less intimidating for youngsters who’re conscious of the pleats (they might just come off) and the drape.” Beri feels an edgy, trendy broach adds to the chutzpah element of the sari and a jacket as a replacement for blouse (in winters) makes it more wearable.
Fun and quirky
Newbie Anvita Jain of Pappu’s workshop has designed a range of jaali chehre blouses to add to a fun element to a plain sari. Designer Nida Mahmood feels a quirky element gets the youngsters hooked on to almost anything today. Her denim saris have caught the fashion world’s attention. “Slip on a (pair of) denim, put the pleats on one half of the denim (from the fly) and don’t drape the sari around completely. Just take the pallu around. A sari worn like this eases your movements and looks stylish and trendy too,” explains Mahmood. Designer Kavita Bhartia is ready with what she calls “a dress sari” that she plans to showcase at the upcoming fashion week. “It’s a ready-to-wear sari, but with a dress twist to it.”
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