The sari is an unstitched length of cloth, generally measuring around five to nine yards in length, worn as an essential attire/outfit of Indian women. The end strip, usually longer than a meter, is called the pallu or anchal.
The Hindustani word sari described in Sanskrit ‘Sati’, which means a strip of cloth. History of sari like drapery is tracked back to the Indus Valley civilisation, which flourished during 2800 dash 1800 BCE around the time northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent.
For Indian women these swaths of fabric are more than just simple garment. They are the symbol of national pride, ambassadors for traditional (cutting -edge design) and craftsmanship, and a prime example of the rich differences in India's 29 states.
There are around 80 recorded ways to wear a sari. Among the techniques of wearing sari Nive drape pleated wrapped around the waist with the pallu (the embellished end of the garment flung over the left shoulder.
For some women it’s a matter of habit or identity like for my mother and mother-in-law who are in their sixties never wore any outfit other than Sari, for others it’s about style and glamour. The sari is a most adaptable dress, with its amazing styles of draping and design. Fashion has changed with time but the sari is the only dress which has remained unaffected.” Women who are conscious about their figure and don't want to show their love handles or get embarrassed due to inappropriate dressing sense. For those kinds of women, nothing can be better than a sari. Any woman with any shape and size can wear a sari and look stunning.
In the modern world, the sari is now recognized as a global garment. Hollywood stars like Madona, Liz Hurley were seen swathed in six yards of fabric. If you look at fashion shows in big cities of India main influence is still the sari. Even 21st December is celebrated as 'World Sari Day'. Sari is the must-have component of Indian women's wardrobe. If you get bored with your sari you repurpose it into mani things like turn it into a lehenga, Punjabi suit, or even a night gown. Sari is the most sustainable piece of fabric with a unique identity. The sari supports millions of handloom weavers in India. Which contributes to the Fair-Trade Practice in India.
As well as from purely functional garments, like many aspects of our clothes sari is deeply connected to our memory and identity.
*Inspired by Wikipedia, National Geographic Google Art, and Culture Articles.