9 Men and Women Style Their Heirloom Saris

IRA DUBEY

Actor

“My mom [actor Lillette Dubey] has always had an eclectic and experimental style. She wears the sari in a traditional, classic way and that has inspired my style of draping the sari, too,” the actor shares with us. That said, Ira enjoys adding an extra element to her look to make it relevant to the times, with silver jewellery and experimental blouse patterns. “The sari blouse can change the entire look, in my opinion,” she adds. For this sari essay, the actor is wearing her mother’s sari that is over a decade old, and also her favourite blouse. Ira has paired these with her sister’s vintage jewellery. “Mom has a gorgeous sari collection, and she often purchases one during her travels. I have had my eye on this particular piece for a while, now. It has just the right amount of subtle shimmer and a bit of quirk with the polka-dotted border,” she reveals. Over the years, Ira has worn this piece for a number of occasions, and last took it out for her mother’s stage production that was inspired by the life of the late actor, Devika Rani—the veteran star was, herself, known to have an enviable sari collection, and often draped them in unique, modern ways. “I truly believe in the joy of re-wearing a piece of clothing that belongs to a parent. In fact, I am very keen to re-wear my mother’s wedding sari when I end up getting married... There is such history, emotion,and legacy that one carries when wearing your mother's clothes. I consider it very special.”

ROSHNI CHOPRA

Actor

“In this photograph, I am wearing a pure-gold Benarasi brocade that belonged to my husband’s dadi (paternal grandmother). His mother received it as a present, and it was handed over to me the day I got married,” Roshni tell us, adding that amidst all the new outfits in her trousseau, this piece won her heart the moment she laid eyes on it. “In fact, I’ve seen photos of both his dadi and mother wearing this sari,” she adds. Speaking about the ensemble, Roshni says, “I created a dhoti, warrior-esque drape and paired it with a crop top to give it a modern twist. I truly believe that a sari can be styled in so many different ways. It’s the one garment you can play with and reinvent, over and over again.” The actor reveals that it is her mother who has inspired her to appreciate the less-is-more aesthetic for Indianwear. “Rewearing clothes belonging to a family member is a great way to treasure their legacy, the feeling of belonging, and to celebrate the past. I’m always rummaging for old pieces in my family closets!”

PUSHPAK SEN

Digital Content Creator

“This gorgeous sari is a vintage Dhakai Jamdani from Bangladesh,” says Pushpak. “It’s rare to find a vintage Jamdani with neon-coloured weaves like this one. The gold zari adds an antique appeal. This sari was gifted by my grandmother to my mother the first time they met, almost 30 years ago. My grandmother got it woven by the masterful weavers of Bangladesh and I have been told that she sat through the entire process till the sari was completed. It was woven in a day,” he says. This heirloom weave has stood his mother in good stead, as Pushpak reveals that not only did she wear it at her wedding cocktail party, but also, years later, to receive an award. He adds, “My mother guards this sari with her life, and hasn't worn it more than twice due to the fear of spoiling it. It’s a wonder that she let me wear this sari... or did she? [laughs]” A family fashion rule that Pushpak has picked up is the importance of caring for a garment, after taking it off. “Otherwise, there’s no point in proclaiming oneself as a fashion enthusiast,” he puts it. Not a big fan of fusion wear, Pushpak believes in sticking to traditional styles, which includes the many weaves in his mother’s wardrobe. He says, “Anything that belongs to your parents holds a lot of memories. Whenever I wear an item that belongs to them, I feel like it’s a nice, big, warm hug from them.”

OMIKA, RISHIKA, AND AASHIKA JIKARIA

Tik-Tok Choreographers

The online dancing queens, the Jikaria Sisters, chose to wear vintage ensembles from their mother’s wardrobe...which hold deep significance for them. “All of the saris we are wearing are from our mom’s closet in the 1980s and 1990s. When she moved to the US during this time, she brought many vintage pieces along from India. For her, these clothes are a symbol of bringing a piece of her identity and heritage to a new life, in a new country,” they say. The sisters share that their mother would wear elegant saris while attending special events as a part of the Gujarati American community in New York, and encouraged them to wear ethnic clothing, too. “Our mom was our first fashion icon, so we feel empowered when wearing her outfits, and we want to live up to her grace. The style lesson we learnt from mom is to always be bold. She has inspired us to feel confident in anything we choose to wear.”

SONAAKSHI RAAJ MERANI

Fashion Designer

“One of my favourite memories as a child was watching my mother dress up in saris for weddings, as she normally wouldn’t wear them. My mom’s style is pretty much like mine. We both like to keep it classic and minimalistic,” Sonaakshi shares with us. Here, she is wearing her mother’s Benarasi silk handloom sari, with a bright-pink lace blouse created by the designer, herself. “I decided to retain the aesthetic of the sari, but in my own style. I feel that rewearing a parent’s outfit is an absolute joy! Not only are you emotionally connected to the piece, but it also allows you to reinvent the style and create something new.”

HAMEL PATEL

Fashion and Beauty Influencer

Hamel, who is a believer in what's known as ‘desithetics’, is wearing her mother’s wedding sari—a traditional Gujarati Bandhani Patola silk sari with gold zardozi work. “My parents don’t have many photographs from their wedding, but every time I have seen one, I have been drawn to this particular piece. My mother is a perfectionist when it comes to draping a sari. She always makes sure her pleats are flawless, and that’s the biggest thing I’ve learned from her,” she says. While Hamel may have perfect pleats in place, her personal style is about mixing traditional Indian aesthetics with a contemporary vibe. As she puts it, “You would never see me wear an outfit without something Indian!”. “My style is definitely ‘desi fusion’, so I had to find a way to drape the sari in a manner that is true to my personal style—Indian, American, and bold! Here, I decided to drape this one as a gown, and I am obsessed with the outcome.” The vintage-loving influencer takes special interest in recycling outfits to create new ones. She says, “Each piece carries a special memory, and it’s worth the effort to try and repurpose styles that are relevant.”

TASHEEN RAHIMTOOLA

Food Curator

Even though lehengas are her go-to sartorial staple, Tasheen chose her grandmother’s sari to take a trip down memory lane. She says, “This sari belonged to my nani who gave it to my mother (or maybe she just took it...I mean, it is stunning!). Nani bought it from a store in South Bombay back in the 1970s. White isn’t a typical colour one would purchase back then, but after looking at this piece, I understand why my grandmother had to own it. This sari is so different from what is available in the markets today, and that caught my eye, so I obviously had to borrow it from my mom.” Tasheen shares that her innate sense of “subtle-yet-classy” style is something she imbibed from her mother. “Since childhood, I’ve considered my mom to be the most beautiful woman in the world. I’ve grown up playing dress-up in her clothes. I feel effortlessly beautiful in my mother’s sari because she is someone I’m proud of, and aspire to be like.” Speaking about her look, she says, “I wore an off-white tube top and a beige petticoat. But, instead of a regular drape, I draped the sari in my variation of the neck-wrap style, while paying extra attention to the pleats on the pallu. I fixed it in place by using a belt by Sabyasachi, and completed it with an off-white, cut-out blazer. Since no traditional outfit is complete without jewellery, I wore long earrings from Anomaly by Anam for the finishing touches.”

PALAK SHAH

Founder and CEO of Ekaya Banaras

“This is the sari my mother wore on her wedding reception day, almost three decades ago. I’ve always had my eye on it, out of all the pieces in her collection. I love that it’s black—I reckon, back then, it wasn’t a typical colour choice for weddings. I like to think that my mother followed her own style rules, and did what made her happy and comfortable in her own skin,” Palak shares, who believes that this piece is relevant, even today, as the perfect example of an eternal classic. What makes this even more special for the entrepreneur is that not only has she seen the six yards of style in her parents’ wedding album, but also on multiple occasions, while growing up. “Whenever I wear my mother’s saris, or, for that matter, my father’s watches, I feel they’re with me in spirit wherever I go. Now that I think of it, I’ve always chosen to carry my parents’ possessions when I’ve really wanted to feel like they’re close by, even when they can’t be. There’s also a profound sense of responsibility and personal family history surrounding clothing or accessories worn by parents. These have been looked after with a lot of love and care.”

SHEEFA GILANI

Fashion & Interior Stylist

“This Banarasi sari, in real zari, was gifted to my mother-in-law by her mother-in-law. It was originally purchased over 50 years ago from Banaras, then known as Kashi,” Sheefa shares, adding, “I decided to switch my blouse to a more modern silhouette. Traditional Banarsi saris are very heavy, and that makes them balloon a little. So, I used a heritage kamar bandh to cinch it in at the waist. I like to be comfortable in a sari, and wearing the pallu in a practical way is my saviour.” With time, Sheefa has begun to appreciate the beauty of sustainability and the creativity that goes into re-imagining an old piece of clothing. “My mother-in-law and my mother have always been supporters of sustainable, slow fashion. I love how they find new ways of repeating an outfit, no matter the occasion. I still find it remarkable how my mother-in-law wore an heirloom lehenga to my wedding reception... It is an art form that I am beginning to learn.” Sheefa considers these garments hidden treasures, which she will cherish forever. “The joy of re-styling these pieces and making them work, even today, gives me such satisfaction, especially as a stylist.”