STYLE
SPOTLIGHT
In India’s dazzling, culturally diverse lands, there is an overwhelming sense of cultural pride rooted in their rich and interesting history. Among one of the most eminent cultural symbols is the saree, a traditional Indian article of clothing for women.
The saree is a garment in which women in India wrap around their body in various patterns and styles. The Lehenga style is one worn only on formal occasions, for it gives the appearance of a Lehenga, a skirt worn on weddings and festivals. The Gujarati saree is achieved when the saree is folded into different pleats, allowing the woman to show off the beautiful borders and details of the saree. The Mumtaz style, inspired by the hit song “Aaj kal tere mere pyaar ke charche”, is a romantic look leaving you feeling like a Bollywood style. Other styles of wearing the saree include the Maharashtrian, the Mermaid, the Rajrani, and the Indo Western style.
A saree is made by various types of threads weaved by a professional weaver. Threads range from cotton, being the cheapest, to silk, being the most exquisite. Elaborate embroidery goes into the production of sarees, making them not only a fashionable item but a work of art.
Culture and fashion go hand and hand, as our style is a medium in expressing our culture and beliefs. As the famous fashion designer Coco Chanel once put it, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, what is happening.”
THE SAREE
by Julia Schemmer
APRIL 2014
32