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Where The Sari Meets Chanel
The fact is, in the new Indian economy there's plenty of room at the table for everyone, and with experts predicting that the good times will continue to roll for at least 10 or 20 years more, all the major players are inviting themselves. Homegrown luxury goods and branded imports are evolving together in the walk-in closets of India's newly minted millionaires.
There is no danger, at least for now, of adding the sari to the endangered-species style list, because globalization at its core is a game of give and take, not a one-way street. One need only look at the overtly Indian inspiration behind the recent ready-to-wear collection by Hermès or the couture line from Armani Privé for proof that luxury brands know which side their nan is buttered on. For Western labels the focus is on building up brand awareness and customer loyalty, while Indian companies are aware of a need to step up to the competition, improving their quality and consistency.
The Indian woman, increasingly empowered, finds herself in a win-win situation. Making more money than ever before, she's in a position to challenge social expectations. If she wants to wear a brocade sari one night and a patent-leather miniskirt the next—well, it's her party too. So don't be surprised if on your next trip to India you spy a gorgeous sylph sliding out of her chauffeured Mercedes in 10-centimeter Jimmy Choos, a woven-leather limited-edition Bottega Veneta clutch in hand, her pale blue chiffon sari fluttering in the wind. Cross-cultural style influence—it's so this season.
Reddy, a fine artist based in Mumbai, is a contributing editor at Vogue India.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: Ab Ahimsa @ 04/12/2008 6:27:11 PM
Comment: Of course you are able to judge all Indian women in the short time you were in Hyderabad or wherever you were. Have you been to Bombay, Goa or even bangalore for that matter. We Indian women love our sarees and shalwars but walk down Bandstand in Bombay and we rock the hell out of the miniskirt. We do not get raped or killed for wearing our tank tops and shorts.
As they say, a little bit of know of knowledge is a dangerous thing!! And your knowledge of all Indian women is miniscule.
Posted By: newhorizons @ 01/29/2008 1:01:34 PM
Comment: Please. I've been to India and those women are not giving up the sari any time soon. The main dressfor women in India is 1. the sari and 2. the pajama. They take pride in their beautifully colored modesty. Trust me you would not see a woman in india wearing a patent leather mini skirt. She would be in danger if she wore that out in broad daylight. The only time you might see an Indian woman in something like that is on tv (and my adopeted indian mother told me, yes she wears that for tv, but as soon as she comes off the set, she puts back on her sari.) or on a girl who snuck the skirt out under her sari on the way to a disco. A few of the younger gengeration does wear jeans and t-shirts, but even in a city like Hyderabad, i only saw maybe 5 women in a time period of one month, wearing anything but sari's pajama's or the black muslim burka. Now you want to talk about advancment for women and style that is the place to look.
Traditionally the black burka covering everything but the eyes, has been worn by the muslim women. Now adays you can see 4 inches of colorfull sari's poking out the bottom, gorgous embrodery beginning to creep it's way up the black material, the viel and head garment being worn less and less,and occationally, you will see a muslim teen in jeans a tee-shirt and the black viel and head garment the only clue to her muslim heritage. Or you could take a look at their pre-pubecent daughters, running around in princess dresses if you want fashion.
Here's the thing, these women feel safe and confident in the clothing they wear. I don't know how many times my host family told me, "don't think otherwise, but you should put on your chuni before we go." or " you should probably wear long sleeves today, you need to be covered where we are going, it's dangerous, don't think otherwise." Because for as much progress as the women in India have made, it's still not safe to bear your shoulders with a tank top or wear a skirt that shows more that and inch or two above your ankles. A woman in India wearing a mini skirt!!! Give me a break!
Posted By: ilasr @ 01/25/2008 5:36:54 PM
Comment: very well written article