Fashion
MORE THAN JUST A By Poornima Menon
I
believe sarees have been around since the beginning of civilisation. Historians believe that the first depictions of saree like costumes can be seen in sculptures dating back to 100 BC. This garment is also given great importance in the epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. This quintessential female garment has continued to tantalise and intrigue the wearer and observer for centuries. It is interesting what can be done with six yards of colourful material. And while most regions in India have the standard draping style, Maharashtrians, Coorgis, Gujaratis and Bengalis have their own distinctive draping style. Similarly, different states of India have their distinctive weaves and embroidery patterns too. An Indian saree is more than just six yards of fabric, she encompasses within her folds and her pleats, the history and the geography of the region and the lifestyle of the people living there. The looms in people’s homes have an interesting tale to tell. The weaves of sarees are given the names based on the region they origi-
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SHOPPING EXPERIENCE nate from—Kanchipuram sarees come from Kanchipuram, Gadwal sarees form Gadwal, Ilkal sarees from Ilkal, Pochampally ikat from Pochampally, Benarasi sarees from Benares, Chanderi sarees from Chanderi and so on. It has also been observed that certain sarees can only be made in certain places due to the quality of the locally grown fibre, climate, and skill of the weaver—it is impossible to replicate the same in other areas. Unfortunately, the introduction of the power looms is slowly tightening its chokehold on the handloom industry.
exhibition were taken on a weave tour of India. An attraction of the exhibition was a fashion show showcasing the styling of saree enhancing her versatility and making her a garment for all ages, for all seasons and for all occasions. The styling was done by Swarnali Sikder from Style with Swarnali.
Five Pleats by Poornima Menon was born out of the passion for handloom and a desire to support the small handloom weavers in India. It is the beginning of journey and the fulfilment of a dream. After the launch on 24th August 2018, the brand has gained the trust and patronage not only in Sydney but other parts of NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Five Pleats by Poornima Menon held the fifth successful exhibition on 23rd February at the Rydes in Parramatta. The exhibition showcased weaves and embroideries from over 10 different Indian States. From the Kasavus of Kerala to the Sozni of Jammu and Kashmir, from the Bhandhej of Gujarat to the Sambalpuri of West Bengal and the Mekhela Chador of Assam, the visitors to the
MARCH I 2019
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