Sari

No matter what’s trending; somethings are always in, because they are irreplaceable. They’ve not fallen prey to the ravages of time and changing trends. And the Indian traditional attire Sari is one of these irreplaceable ensembles. Throughout the history of Indian culture, Sari has played an instrumental role in painting the beauty, elegance, delicacy and strength of Indian women. Even today it is considered as a symbol of pride, royalty and eternal grace. Undoubtedly, there is no other outfit that portrays the rich Indian culture and the elegance of Indian women the way a Sari does.

No wonder despite being more than 5000 years old, it still continues to be a part of every auspicious occasion in Indian. From her 12th grade farewell to her wedding and even beyond, Sari will always occupy a special corner in the closet of every Indian girl. It’s an age-old tradition passed on from grandmothers to their granddaughters. Sari has occupied a very special place in our heart, and its indomitable magic continues to mesmerize and spellbind people from all around the world. This nine-yard piece of cloth radiates an elegance that’ll never go out of style.

The Birth of this Beauty: A Funny Story actually

One often thinks that the creation of this timeless beauty would have been an Indian mythological tale involving Indian Goddesses and Gods in it. But the funny part is, that it wasn’t a tale, it was a superstition actually, which shouldn’t be a surprise if you’re an Indian.
So, way back in India, it was believed that stitching clothes made them impure, owing to which women wore a nine-yard piece of unstitched cloth draping it across the breast in the form of a chest band and along the waist to cover the lower body, this was usually accompanied with a shawl like Uttariyas. And this is how the earliest Sari was formed.  

The Changing Sari

With its existence for more than 5000 years, Sari is considered as one of the oldest forms of clothing all around the planet. And just like every other thing that stays for such an extensive period, it tends to evolve, and Sari is no exception.
Even in its initial years various styles of draping a Sari were developed, a part of the credit goes to the diverse Indian community. Different cultural and religious groups put together different ways to drape this 9-yard piece of cloth in such a manner that reflected their values, culture and personality the best. Sari has existed and played a crucial role in the Muslim culture as well, with shararas and ghararas considered as the first choice amongst not only Muslim women, but women in general for any upcoming festivity or occasion. And the magic of Sari was how it make its place in all the major and minor communities of not only our country but all over the world. Globally Sari is considered to be famous not only because of the Indian culture and pride it reflects, but also how this piece of cloth binds the diverse communities and societies of our country. The most captivating fact of Sari remains how it gives you the complete freedom to fashion it according to your personality. It’s a universal story that you can twist and turn according to your personality and wear.

The Kaleidoscope of Sari

One of the main reasons Sari maintains its popularity is how it has changed over the years. Although there are 108 ways of draping a Sari, some of the most popular ones across the globe from India are:

  1. Athpourey shari from Bengal
  2. Nivi drape from Andhra Pradesh
  3. Kappulu from Andhra Pradesh
  4. Mekhela chador from Assam
  5. Nauvari Sari from Maharashtra
  6. Mohiniattam from Kerala
  7. Seedha pallu from Gujarat, UP and Odisha
  8. Surguja from Chhattisgarh
  9. Pinkosu from Madurai
  10. Bootheyara from Karnataka
  11. Coorgi style from Karnataka
  12. Halakki Vokkaliga from Karnataka
  13. Gol sari (Parsi drape)
  14. Kunbi drape from Goa
  15. Madisaru from Tamil Nadu
  16. Santhal drape from Jharkhand
  17. Phanek and Innaphi from Manipur
  18. Namboothiri from Kerala

The Sari for the Modern Indian Women

Carrying the royal tradition and passing this monumental and regal legacy to the millenniums and especially to the Modern Indian Women, with great pride and immense love, Monk & Mei presents to you The ISSH Sari, a one-minute Sari for today’s restless youth and their fast-paced lives. The Sari is in pop colors and is handcrafted keeping comfort as a priority. We’ve incorporated a liquid fashion design that makes the attire super comfortable and accentuates the grace elegance and delicacy that are at the heart of this attire. We’ve tried to put together this priceless tradition in a way that would fit into your busy lifestyle so that in the hustle of life you’re always connected to your roots and this phenomenal tale of change and adaptability.




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