Coimbatore : “If there is one garment that can express the diversity of India so beautifully, it is our dear old Sari,” exults Rita Kapur Chishti, a textile scholar visiting Coimbatore for her exhibition, and on a life’s mission to spread abroad her love for the sari. Chishti is in the city for just a day to exhibit her exquisite collection of handwoven Khadi saris. The exhibition will be on till 6 pm, today, in Pookari at Race Course.
Coimbatore : “If there is one garment that can express the diversity of India so beautifully, it is our dear old Sari,” exults Rita Kapur Chishti, a textile scholar visiting Coimbatore for her exhibition, and on a life’s mission to spread abroad her love for the sari. Chishti is in the city for just a day to exhibit her exquisite collection of handwoven Khadi saris. The exhibition will be on till 6 pm, today, in Pookari at Race Course.
"If you say a sari is just a sari, you are wrong. A sari can be the most common and the most humble piece of clothing owned by women across our country. Yet, this humble piece of clothing is specific to each region. The way each sari is woven will speak volumes about the culture and heritage of that particular region," says Chishti. To ensure the culture and heritage of a region is made known to all, Chishti founded the brand 'Taanbaan,' an exquisite collection of saris, blouses and duppattas that are hand spun and handwoven out of pure Khadi, cotton and silk. The cotton used in the saris are from the regions of Agra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. “Everything, right from harvesting to combing to weaving is done by hand. From the harvesting to the final product, about 16–20 people are involved. I feel happy to say that the traditions and the art of weaving are being kept alive,” opines Chishti.
According to Chishti, the popularity for the Khadi cotton has increased significantly in the past five years. Chishti says, “If the younger generation thinks of wearing a sari as tedious, it need not be.” She quickly points to her book ‘Saris: Tradition and Beyond’ which showcases the flexibility of saris and about 108 ways to drape a sari to suit every personality and occasion. "So a sari, which you wear to work can also be converted into a skirt or a palazzo pant, much like the silhouette or an evening gown. The possibilities are endless,” she reveals.
“The love for weaving and the amount of work that goes into the 'Khadi' drove me to bring Taanbaan to our city. We need to take ownership for our Khadi products and make it popular. In short, these fabrics are equal to freedom,” says Shrivyshnavi Annush, the founder of Pookaari.
