"Fashion Revolution": The Modern Reinvention of the Saree
Nearly 100 fashion-forward sarees, including the very first to be worn at the Met Gala, will be on display across the UK in a new large-scale exhibition examining modern reinvention of clothing.
The first exhibition of its kind at the Design Museum, titled The Offbeat Sari, brings together more than 90 objects that have been loaned by designers and studios across the India to tell the story of what has been called a "fashion revolution".
Conventionally a single piece of unsewn cloth, the sari reflects identity, social class, taste and function, and remains an enduring part of life in South Asia today.
But a garment once regarded by young people as traditional and uncomfortable has evolved in recent years into a modern expression of identity and resistance. The exhibition explores how designers and artisans are reshaping the way the sari is understood, designed, made and worn in India today.
In particular, it examines the when the saree was first worn at the Met Gala in New York in May 2022, marking the garment's arrival on the global fashion scene. Designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee and styled with a gold Schiaparelli bodice, this saree was worn by Indian businessman and socialite Natasha Poonawalla, and grabbed headlines around the world for its dramatic blend of Indian and Western tailoring.
This will be the first time the set has been seen in Britain, and only the second time it has been featured in an exhibition, having been shown in Monaco last summer.
Other sarees on display will include pieces from brands such as Abraham & Thakore, Raw Mango, AKAARO and NorBlack NorWhite which the Design Museum says have been "at the forefront of dynamic change and the renewed relevance of the sari". ”.
Visitors will also see sarees that experiment with materials and form by designers such as Amit Aggarwal, HUEMN, Diksha Khanna and Bodice. There are also examples of couture sarees like Tarun Tahiliani's foil jersey design for Lady Gaga in 2010 and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla's ruffled version, worn by Bollywood star Deepika Padukone at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.
Alongside them are a range of styles seen on the streets of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and beyond, showing how young women in cities are embracing the saree.
Priya Khanchandani, the exhibit's curator, said the sari was experiencing what was "arguably its most rapid reinvention in its 5,000-year history".< /p>
She added, "It makes the saree movement is one of today's most important global fashion stories, but little is known about her true nature beyond South Asia transform it into fresh, radical, everyday garments that allow them to express who they are, while the designers ex exp experimenting with its materiality by tapping into limitless creativity.
"For me and for so many others, the sari has a personal and cultural meaning, but it is also a a rich and dynamic canvas for innovation, encapsulating the vitality and eclecticism of Indian culture.
"With a population of 1.4 billion, the he importance of India in contemporary culture is vast, and the sari highlights the country. undeniable imagination and verve, while affirming the relevance of Indian design on the world stage. >May 19 to September 17, 2023
Nearly 100 fashion-forward sarees, including the very first to be worn at the Met Gala, will be on display across the UK in a new large-scale exhibition examining modern reinvention of clothing.
The first exhibition of its kind at the Design Museum, titled The Offbeat Sari, brings together more than 90 objects that have been loaned by designers and studios across the India to tell the story of what has been called a "fashion revolution".
Conventionally a single piece of unsewn cloth, the sari reflects identity, social class, taste and function, and remains an enduring part of life in South Asia today.
But a garment once regarded by young people as traditional and uncomfortable has evolved in recent years into a modern expression of identity and resistance. The exhibition explores how designers and artisans are reshaping the way the sari is understood, designed, made and worn in India today.
In particular, it examines the when the saree was first worn at the Met Gala in New York in May 2022, marking the garment's arrival on the global fashion scene. Designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee and styled with a gold Schiaparelli bodice, this saree was worn by Indian businessman and socialite Natasha Poonawalla, and grabbed headlines around the world for its dramatic blend of Indian and Western tailoring.
This will be the first time the set has been seen in Britain, and only the second time it has been featured in an exhibition, having been shown in Monaco last summer.
Other sarees on display will include pieces from brands such as Abraham & Thakore, Raw Mango, AKAARO and NorBlack NorWhite which the Design Museum says have been "at the forefront of dynamic change and the renewed relevance of the sari". ”.
Visitors will also see sarees that experiment with materials and form by designers such as Amit Aggarwal, HUEMN, Diksha Khanna and Bodice. There are also examples of couture sarees like Tarun Tahiliani's foil jersey design for Lady Gaga in 2010 and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla's ruffled version, worn by Bollywood star Deepika Padukone at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.
Alongside them are a range of styles seen on the streets of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and beyond, showing how young women in cities are embracing the saree.
Priya Khanchandani, the exhibit's curator, said the sari was experiencing what was "arguably its most rapid reinvention in its 5,000-year history".< /p>
She added, "It makes the saree movement is one of today's most important global fashion stories, but little is known about her true nature beyond South Asia transform it into fresh, radical, everyday garments that allow them to express who they are, while the designers ex exp experimenting with its materiality by tapping into limitless creativity.
"For me and for so many others, the sari has a personal and cultural meaning, but it is also a a rich and dynamic canvas for innovation, encapsulating the vitality and eclecticism of Indian culture.
"With a population of 1.4 billion, the he importance of India in contemporary culture is vast, and the sari highlights the country. undeniable imagination and verve, while affirming the relevance of Indian design on the world stage. >May 19 to September 17, 2023
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