Hyderabad, December 21, 0224- FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) celebrated World Saree Day on Friday at Hotel Leela in Banjara Hills. World Saree Day is celebrated on December 21 every year. To mark the occasion and celebrate the same FLO organised a talk “The Saree”- Six Yards of Sustainable Heritage, a day before World Saree Day.
Sanjay Garg, a pioneer in textiles and founder of the Raw Mango brand was in conversation with Priya Gazdar, Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad.
Saree will not go out of fashion as long as people wear saree. Saree stood the test of time. Saree is rich and is over 5,000 years old. Sari – the world’s oldest unstitched garment was first cultivated and woven in ancient India dating back to 5 millennium BC. Weavers used dyes such as indigo, turmeric, red madder and lac to create the cotton drape that was worn by women. And there is no looking back since then, Sanjay said
It underwent many changes over time, adapting to fashion trends while preserving its essence. Some of the changes include: Fabric, Design, Accessories, Length, Designer saree, Bollywood influence, British Era, Comfort, Stitched sarees, one-minute sarees. From traditional silk and cotton, sarees have evolved into modern materials, Sanjay Garg shared
Addressing the 150-plus gathering, Sanjay said that he would not believe in the trend. I don’t go with the wind. I am a trendsetter, he added
The saree is such a flexible garment that you can mix and match it with Ethnic, Western wear and anything else. For the past few years, the fashion world has seen a fascinating trend emerging: the fusion of traditional Indian sarees with Western elements to create stylish and unique outfits, he shared
This unique blend of East and West has given birth to a whole new category of fashion unknown, the Indo-Western. Today, we’re happily exploring the mix-and-match sarees with Western wear and creating stunning, contemporary looks that turn heads and make a proud fashion statement.
When asked about the popularity of saree in India, he said Saree is more popular in South India than any other region in India. The East comes second, the West third and the North last. Outside India, the saree is popular in the Southeast Asia Region covering countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Serena and Venus Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts and many celebs and international guests at the G-20 summit dinner held in our country wore sarees. Sari Is also the most preferred, sought-after power dress worn by women in politics in our country, he added.
Speaking of how we can make our young believe in saree and wear it he said you must make them know that saree can be draped in more than 150 styles. It can be as fashionable as any other garment you would ever imagine. A saree is the most versatile dress. There is no age limit. Women of any age can wear it and look good in that outfit.
Unfortunately, young women in our country often choose not to wear sarees because of the perceived inconvenience and discomfort associated with it. Managing daily activities such as city commuting, using public transport, office work, driving two-wheelers etc makes it less practical for current-day lifestyles, particularly in urban women; they often prefer more functional clothing like jeans or salwar kameez that offer greater ease of movement.
Talking about the secret behind the success of the Brand ‘Raw Mango’ Sanjay said our designs are deeply rooted in Indian heritage and tradition. We constantly innovate and push our boundaries. Flexibility is another unique thing about our brand. We are flexible in our approach, he shared.
Earlier giving her opening remarks, Priya Gazdar Chairperson of the FLO said ‘we are proud to wear the world’s oldest garment. The saree has a powerful message from our ancient scriptures. Our Ancient Indian texts describe the Saree as a celestial gift, symbolizing grace, purity, and intellect – with the pallu representing protection and the pleats signifying different streams of knowledge. In the Mahabharata, Draupadi’s endless saree becomes a testament to unwavering faith, shielding her from dishonour. When Ravana attempted to abduct her, Seetha’s saree revealed her power, courage, and protection. And as she draped the whole world with her saree, she enlightened all of Sri Lanka.
Keeping this ancient tradition alive is not just about saving a garment or craft or about honouring India’s spiritual, artistic and cultural heritage; Priya said it is also about empowering rural artisans and connecting the past with the present for a sustainable future.