Dreamweaver
The ageless sari has flourished since time immemorial not only because of its beauty and simplicity but also on account of its sheer versatility. Over time, it has come to embody both Indian culture and capture the grace of our Indian beauties. The perfect attire for the festive season, we catch up designing woman Supraja Srinivasan of Sampangi for the latest trends and the most sought-after designs for saris.
The creative force behind Chennai’s newest sari brand ‘Sampangi’, gorgeous Supraja Srinivasan is the perfect person to give ‘sari-torial’ advice. Srinivasan is not only a talented design entrepreneur; she is a successful sari model who has starred in campaigns for Nalli, Pothy’s, Kumaran Silks, Tulsi Silks and Man Mandir.
Sari-torially Speaking
Her line of one-of-a-kind saris combines handcrafted yardage from across the country. From pure Andhra cotton to jute silk from Bengal and Bihar, Sampangi combines striking ikat, kalamkari and tribal prints with striking colors. The thirty-four-year-old advises that this season, “Bling is out! Interesting floral and geometric prints and the color block trend continue to rule for saris. Understated yet classy is what we are looking at this festive season. When it comes to embellishments on saris, subtle hand-embroidery, small mirrors and pearls make for a more elegant look. Go for muted matte finish metallic shades over bright golds and silvers.”
For Diwali she suggests that, “Concept saris are most sought after right now, and these saris are designed by combining different fabrics, textures, colors and prints. For example, jewel tones combined with contrasting colors and prints. Emerald with salmon pink, rani pink with grey, sapphire blue with lime green etc. Also, two-tone saris with an eclectic mix of prints and lace/benarasi/velvet borders and tassels on the pallu, all are in vogue right now.”
Accessories Alert
Srinivasan says “When accessorizing remember less is more! Finish your sari look with a pair of statement earrings and a finger ring, an elegant watch and a classy clutch in a neutral shade!”
