Amidst the din of well-meaning efforts to celebrate and revive the Indian drape, The Saree Festival is one to pick out and take notice. There is such a thing as overkill, after all. But Red Earth has played its cards right by hosting annual festivals in metros across India, over the past two years. After wrapping up in Kolkata, the touring festival heads down to Amethyst today, for the last edition of the six-city tour. For the first time, the organisation holds a summer showcase in the run up to the main festival, typically held in October or just before the festive season. “There is this misconception that saris are not ideal for warmer months. We wanted to show people that saris actually work well all year round. And that’s the reason behind the summer showcase,” says Himanshu Verma of Red Earth, popularly known as the ‘Saree Man’ for his advocacy of the gender fluidity of the garment.
The saris on offer are categorised under Festive, Everyday and Vintage. Under Festive, expect to find Chanderis, Kota dorias in pure zari and cotton Benarasis. ‘Everyday’ will see you choosing between linens by brands —Nadiya Paar and Galang Gabaan and khadis by Love For The Loom.
“One trend we’ve been noticing recently is the sudden surge in the popularity of linen saris. While I’m not a fan of it, I guess it has a certain novelty attached to it, which makes it appealing,” shares Himanshu. Vintage drapes include Begumpuri weaves from West Bengal, Ilkals from Bagalkot, and mekhela chadors from Assam.
On offer for the first time to the Chennai buyer are saris by Sreya Samanta, a label aimed at adapting traditional Bengali fabrics like kantha to fit modern sensibilities. Himanshu notes that the colour palette for the edition is an eclectic mix of festivity and soft summery hues. “We have had shows in Chennai for two years now, and we’ve learnt that the city loves brighter tones and festive colours. While we do offer what the city wants, we also want to push the boundaries by introducing beiges, powder blue, soft mauves and pastels,” says Himanshu, adding that the Chennai edition is in many ways the grandest. “Chennai’s sari culture is impeccable, and it’s one of my favourite destinations. Everyone wears saris, and everyone is aware of textiles. We put our best foot forward for the city, and we hope the city laps it up like it always
does!” he exclaims.
Rs. 3,000 upwards. At Amethyst today and tomorrow. Details: 45991633
(with inputs from Anuja Premika)