The whole six yards
100-day pact by two friends to wear sarees more often in a year
The 100-saree pact between two friends has gone viral, spurring more and more women to step out in their six yards, which of late has been relegated to a festive wear.
Under the pact, close friends Ally Matthan, founder of Ally Matthan Creations which works in the area of natural bath and skin care products, and Anju Maudgal Kadambi, founder-director of webtv.in, have decided to wear sarees on atleast 100 days of the year. On Monday, the duo decided to get out of the “lazy dressing” mode and elegantly walked into their workplaces in asaree , much to the surprise of their co-workers.
The aim of the project, Matthan says is to “bring back Indestyle to my dressing”.
She adds, “Now, I’ve realised the convenience of the garment, which allows for dressing it up or down.”
“We each have so many sarees that lie unworn, unseen, and begging to be draped. This year I had promised myself to wear more sarees, as an everyday occurrence instead of a special occasion. Not necessarily dressing up, but more dressing elegant,” she says.
“It’s not to collect more sarees, but to rediscover the ones we already have. And repeats are allowed. This is no kitty party vain-ness not to repeat ji, attitude,” she says.
Kadambi explains that what the duo has chosen to do is more of a project rather than an enterprise. “We’re not taking this anywhere. It’s just a chance to dig into our wardrobes. There are some great memories attached to the sarees,”says Kadambi, who will be wearing the six-yard thrice a week.
But the project seems to be going places after the duo posted a photograph of them in their saris on the internet.
Before they knew it the photograph and idea went viral and many women had joined the deal.
Seeing photographs and comments on her friend’s timelines, food blogger Monika Manchanda has started wearing sarees at her home-office. “During my corporate days about eight years ago, I used to wear it once a week. And later about 10-15 times a year. I could see the drop, and thought it to be a good idea to air out the 80 plus sarees that I have,” she says.
While she takes between five and ten minutes for Manthan to get ready for office, on Monday, it took her 25 minutes. But the extra time was well worth it because Matthan, who works within an industrial area decided start the pact with a pink Kanjivaram saree, says it made her feel “in-charge”.
While the pact has gathered much attention on social networking sites, colleagues at their workplaces have also been taken by surprise.
“The best part at work is that people take you more seriously,” she says.
‘Many opting for it’
Designer Tina Eapen who specialises in woven and handmade sarees points to the increasing number of those between 25 and 30 opting to wear sarees regularly. The designer, who holds her exhibitions in Bengaluru, Chennai and Kerala regularly says, “I’ve noticed this trend in South India. In the last decade people were aping the west. But now, with the saree gaining prominence there, many Indians are also opting for it.” Currently selling at Basava Ambara, Eapen says that 30-40 per cent of the sarees are bought by youngsters. “A couple of years ago, women would opt for Bollywood style sarees. But now they prefer natural materials,” she says.
The 100-saree pact between two friends has gone viral, spurring more and more women to step out in their six yards, which of late has been relegated to a festive wear.
Under the pact, close friends Ally Matthan, founder of Ally Matthan Creations which works in the area of natural bath and skin care products, and Anju Maudgal Kadambi, founder-director of webtv.in, have decided to wear sarees on atleast 100 days of the year. On Monday, the duo decided to get out of the “lazy dressing” mode and elegantly walked into their workplaces in a
“We have so many sarees and still choose to dress in yoga pants at home, and in jeans and tops while going out. We’ve always gone in for practical dressing, and sarees have been relegated to festival wear,” says Kadambi, who wore a deep blue sari whose border was stitched by her mother on Monday, the first day of the pact.
The aim of the project, Matthan says is to “bring back Indestyle to my dressing”.
She adds, “Now, I’ve realised the convenience of the garment, which allows for dressing it up or down.”
“We each have so many sarees that lie unworn, unseen, and begging to be draped. This year I had promised myself to wear more sarees, as an everyday occurrence instead of a special occasion. Not necessarily dressing up, but more dressing elegant,” she says.
“It’s not to collect more sarees, but to rediscover the ones we already have. And repeats are allowed. This is no kitty party vain-ness not to repeat ji, attitude,” she says.
Kadambi explains that what the duo has chosen to do is more of a project rather than an enterprise. “We’re not taking this anywhere. It’s just a chance to dig into our wardrobes. There are some great memories attached to the sarees,”says Kadambi, who will be wearing the six-yard thrice a week.
But the project seems to be going places after the duo posted a photograph of them in their saris on the internet.
Before they knew it the photograph and idea went viral and many women had joined the deal.
Seeing photographs and comments on her friend’s timelines, food blogger Monika Manchanda has started wearing sarees at her home-office. “During my corporate days about eight years ago, I used to wear it once a week. And later about 10-15 times a year. I could see the drop, and thought it to be a good idea to air out the 80 plus sarees that I have,” she says.
While she takes between five and ten minutes for Manthan to get ready for office, on Monday, it took her 25 minutes. But the extra time was well worth it because Matthan, who works within an industrial area decided start the pact with a pink Kanjivaram saree, says it made her feel “in-charge”.
While the pact has gathered much attention on social networking sites, colleagues at their workplaces have also been taken by surprise.
“The best part at work is that people take you more seriously,” she says.
‘Many opting for it’
Designer Tina Eapen who specialises in woven and handmade sarees points to the increasing number of those between 25 and 30 opting to wear sarees regularly. The designer, who holds her exhibitions in Bengaluru, Chennai and Kerala regularly says, “I’ve noticed this trend in South India. In the last decade people were aping the west. But now, with the saree gaining prominence there, many Indians are also opting for it.” Currently selling at Basava Ambara, Eapen says that 30-40 per cent of the sarees are bought by youngsters. “A couple of years ago, women would opt for Bollywood style sarees. But now they prefer natural materials,” she says.
