Thu. Mar 28th, 2024
Sabyasachi

Top fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee on Saturday criticised women, particularly of the younger generation, for giving preference a lot more preference to western outfits and not wearing sari. “I think, if you tell me that you do not know how to wear a sari, I would say shame on you. It’s a part of your culture, you need stand up for it,” Sabyasachi told Indian students at the Harvard India Conference.

The designer was responding to a question on difficulties women face in draping a sari. He said, “It is the most wonderful dress in the world and people across the globe admire it, and identify Indian women with it.”

When asked why he decided to launch a label of Indian clothing, Sabyasachi said, “I found a major disconnect when I observed Indian women and men losing touch with their roots. They are becoming socially insecure. Women and men are trying very hard to be something that they are not. Your clothing should be a part of who you are and connect you to your roots.”

The relationship between an Indian woman and sari is that of a serpent, the designer said. “It’s a relationship of misunderstanding. It’s easy to wear a sari. Wars have been fought in sari. Grandmothers have slept in sari and have woken up without any folds to it,” Sabyasachi added.

When asked what it would take for the sari to go global, Sabyasachi said, “I would be very honest with you. I think that cultural clothing should stay within the domain of a particular country because when you take it out, it becomes a costume and then it does not remain sustainable.”

He further continued saying “Indian women have kept alive the sari, but the dhoti is dead,” the designer said much to the laughter and applause from the audience.

All of his remarks were received with a resounding applause from the audience. But not so with twitter as women across the country set ablaze to the social media with their reaction to his statement.

By anoop