Saree, favourite still, but in the wardrobe

When Indian architect and researcher Madhavi Indraganti alternately outfitted a $100,000 mannequin with sarees and salwar-kurtis in a climate chamber in the US to study its insulation levels, her findings showed that the saree was most likely to make it to a woman’s wardrobe than the other because of its ability to shield the body from heat or cold.
But when it comes to convenience, the six yard wonder is probably going to rest in the wardrobe.Whether it is the stay-at-home mom or the working woman, a salwar-kurti is preferred over a saree for reasons that are more than just comfort. Salwar-kurti is easy to wear, less time consuming and involve hassle-free maintenance.
Designers say that the trend of wearing sarees every day to work is now more restricted among a certain generation or workplaces like government offices. Salwar-kurti, which became a daily wear in the South only in the last two decades, has now come to be accepted as a formal outfit.
"It is the older lot who prefer wearing sarees," said designer Sidney Sladen. "Even for wedding receptions, younger women prefer something easy to wear like a lehenga than a saree. Of course, there are those pre-stitched sarees, but they are expensive."
Amidst all her saree-clad colleagues, diabetologist Nanditha Arun might be one of those few doctors who prefers salwar-kurtis over sarees. "I am a multitasker with roles of a doctor, a mother, a cook and many more. The last thing I want to spend my time on is thinking about what to wear to office. And my profession is such that I am always on the go for which salwar would be my immediate choice," she said. "Of course, there are patients who take women doctors seriously only if they see them wearing a saree. But if you confidently carry yourself, it shouldn’t affect you."
Though handiness is given a priority, the traditional Indian saree ensemble has not gone completely out of fashion. Retailers in Chennai find that an increasing choice to wear a salwar or a western outfit has not affected their sale of sarees. Women prefer buying lightweight sarees with simple designs as much as they like heavyweight designer sarees.
"Women still love wearing sarees, either to a wedding or a Carnatic concert and that shows in our sales, which has not dipped. It is the half-saree, which was popular among the teens that have gone completely out of fashion. Our production of half-saree has come down to just five percent," said Nalli Kuppusamy Chetty, owner of the famous Nalli store.
But do women wear the sarees they buy? Going by the trend, it has perhaps been piled up in their cupboards than see the light of the day. "I don’t splurge on sarees, but yes I do have a few that I have not yet worn," Dr Arun said.