Who ever thought six metres of cloth would be a synonym for class and elegance? Sari has been the world's longest running fashion story and the most versatile Indian attire. It is no longer restricted to weddings and functions. It has been proved time and again that a girl can look her best when she is wrapped in yards of beautiful fabric.
Six-yard wonder
Aavaranaa, the boutique, is lined with fabrics ranging from elegant tussars to light chiffons, from gorgeous crêpes to classy Kanchipurams well designed with flawless workmanship and adorned with catchy embellishments offering a variety to customers. Cutwork is the latest trend in sari design. Cut work is a craft which finds expression in an array of fabrics. A delicate, lace-like embroidery which involves intricate hand work and a keen eye. Equally in vogue with Kanchipuram are Benarasi saris that gained popularity after the Mughal rule. Benarasi nets and georgette topped with a zari border also make for an interesting combination.
When asked “What kind of attire always stays in vogue and never dies out?” Soorya Krishna of Aavaranaa explains “The sari! It's the most elegant attire.” She explains that Chennai is not experimental and takes some time to adapt itself to the new trends. “They like to understand the trends and then experiment”, says Soorya.
The latest designs in Kanchipuram saris come in an amalgamation of two to three colours. The sari is divided into five equal parts with three designs and three colours. These still remain the main bridal wear in Chennai with some of the saris woven with real gold throughout the entire sari.
Soorya explains that women now prefer to wear a sari to a function than an evening dress or something western. Customers now prefer Kanchipuram saris because they're light and easy to handle. And plus they're known for the purity and quality of silk. Saris in recent times have been a blend of modern plus traditional designs and an epitome of tradition and elegance.
Ethnic options
Other than the sari, ethnic designs and trends have come to the forefront, with girls now preferring to go traditional rather than modern. Colourful kurtis teamed with leggings is in this season. They are available for all in every range and occasion, they get as casual and as dressy as you want them to be, colourful, chic, stylish and uber cool is what the kurtis have become today! Fuse them with chunky chains and flats and you are good to go! Salwars are made with traditional fabric like Mangal Giri, Daboo and vegetable dyes. Shwetha Patwari, owner of Azariaa, deals with western wear. She remarks how years back teenagers only wanted to wear jeans and a top. “Then a revolution took over, and all the ladies be it 14 or 45, started preferring kurtis and leggings”. Rishita a model doing her Masters in WCC says that ethnic wear has a new definition. “Sari still remains the most versatile Indian attire. It can be draped in a number of ways accompanied with a blouse which compliments the sari as well as you”.
“Right now, around the world the idea of the Indo-Western style has changed. In the past it was more along the lines of western colours, fabrics and prints incorporated in Indian styles, as opposed to now when the beautiful Indian prints and fabrics are being used in western styles. As such the mindset is to bring out the Indian feel in any style of dressing from anywhere in the world,” says model Rochelle Rao.
Trends in ethnic fashion are fast catching up. The Indian ethnic wear comes in varieties that are distinctly designed keeping in mind the style mantra of the people today. Heavy embroidery is out and classy Indian is in! Women like to experiment with colours and styles.
Contemporary designs are infused with traditional ones so that they are aesthetically appealing. The popularity of the Indian ethnic wear is apparent in its adaptation to any occasion whether office, college or for party wear. If you want to look desi as well as modern, ethnic is the way to go!
