Latest news with #sari
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Exhibition of modern saris to come to Birmingham arts centre
A touring exhibition of modern and experimental saris, including those made from denim and from steel threads, is coming to Birmingham this Offbeat Sari exhibition will be at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) from 28 June until 2 show features nearly 60 saris from the past 15 years, ranging from a replica of a foil-like garment made for Lady Gaga, to those worn by a women's vigilante group in India and a skateboarder in Canada."The sari is often understood here [in the UK] as something that's worn for special occasions, or worn by previous generations, but it's not just confined to those settings," said Priya Khanchandani, the show's lead curator. She added that the sari was "a dynamic garment", which was always evolving and which many younger women were experimenting touring exhibition has been created by the Design Museum in London and Birmingham is its only other stop in the UK. The luxury saris on show include a replica of a garment made for Lady Gaga in 2010, for which the Mumbai-born fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani used a fabric called foil show also contains saris that women have used to make a political statement, such as one of the pink saris worn as a uniform by the "gulabi gang", a women's vigilante group formed in the early 2000s in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern MAC is hosting an exhibition called Sari Stories alongside the main show, where people across the Midlands share their memories of wearing saris. Ms Khanchandani said the ways in which women draped their saris was also an area where trends kept changing. The exhibition includes a sari draped like a hoodie, as well as videos that show the different ways to drape the garment."It's a single piece of unstitched cloth so it's quite malleable," Ms Khanchandani said, adding that this made it possible for both fashion designers and ordinary women to experiment with it. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Independent Singapore
16-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Independent Singapore
‘My boyfriend wants me to wear a sari even though I'm not Indian'
SINGAPORE: A woman took to social media, albeit anonymously, seeking advice as to whether or not she should wear a sari to a date. While she's not Indian, her boyfriend is, and he's said in the past that he would like to see her in a sari. In a post on r/askSingapore, u/greencatslipslap asked earlier this week for people's thoughts and recommendations, explaining that while she could easily ask her real-life Indian friends to weigh in, she feels somewhat embarrassed to do so. 'I also think they will be kind and encouraging, but I would prefer honesty,' she added. She went on to explain that her boyfriend has said that he 'really likes traditional Indian clothing for women,' but assured her that he would not want her to wear clothing she's not comfortable in. Moreover, she appears to want to reciprocate her boyfriend's accommodating behaviour. 'He has really made an effort to fit into my family's cultural celebrations and even speaks some Mandarin to my parents, and I would like to do something to show him my appreciation for that and have been thinking about where to find a sari.' While she won't be in Singapore for Deepavali, she's considering surprising him by wearing a sari on a date, but wants to be sensitive about the matter. 'I just wanted to hear if anyone has thoughts on what they would think if they saw a Chinese person wearing a sari casually or on a date. Would it be strange? Would they judge my boyfriend and assume he made me wear it?' she asked, adding that she would also appreciate suggestions for where she can buy a sari that's appropriate for casual or evening wear, as she has heard that it's better not to buy one online. Commenters encouraged her to wear a sari if she wants to. ' Of all the things men have asked their partners to wear, this is level nothing. Don't worry,' one wrote. Others were more concerned that she would be comfortable in one, as it can be tricky to wear when a person isn't used to it. By and large, they agreed with the recommendation of not buying a sari online, suggesting that she shop at Little India for an array of choices. Some suggested that she might want to try alternatives to start with, such as a shalwar kameez, a Punjabi suit, or a chudidar, all of which are easier to handle than a sari. Others, meanwhile, said that if she does choose to wear a sari, she should practice beforehand to make sure she can move about easily. As one pointed out, a sari 'requires some practice and help in the beginning,' 'Sari wearer here. Tying the sari is one thing. But the other is managing it for the rest of the evening. Walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of the car, getting in and out of a chair, going to the toilet… these are all things that require some adjustment to the way you normally move, because wearing a sari is not the same as wearing a floor-length dress. The pleats in front make a difference. My advice would be to practice on a non-date day. Spend a few hours in the sari and move around in it. Small tips: (1) I use two safety pins — one at the waist for the pleats and another on the shoulder for the pallu; (2) get a blouse that fits you well — you can use a bodysuit suit but that makes going to the toilet harder. A very snug cropped t-shirt would do too; (3) wear footwear that leaves your toes bare. I find this makes walking and sitting down, standing up, etc., much easier because I can feel the pleats and don't end up stepping on them,' another recommended. /TISG Read also: 'Dating in your 30s in Singapore is quietly heartbreaking' — SG woman laments, even after having 'gone on over 50 dates'
