with a simple pure raw silk saree - purchased from the iconic silk saree shop of Chennai (Madras) - Rasi Silks. Rasi Silks has its origins in a suburb called Mylapore which is the cultural hub of Chennai.
Being from Mumbai we knew only of two silk saree shops of Madras - Nalli Silks and Rasi Silks. So when Rasi Silks held an exhibition at the Fine Arts Center of Mumbai, my mother and me were really excited. In 1990s, when the only silk sarees in vogue were Kanchipuram and Dharmavaram (for the South Indians, of course) - pure raw silk was something totally unheard of. We even refused to believe that it was silk. And to pay a kings ransom of 1200 rupees for something which was not even an "Arani pattu" was sacrilege for my mother. But me being the rebellious teen had to have my way. And there - I was a proud owner of a green and pink printed raw silk saree.
Little did I know that this piece of uniqueness would go on to be a rage !! Today some 20 years later, this is the most basic of silk sarees. Somewhere along the line, this was the design for Air India's Air hostess's too. In fact it is also called the "Corporate Silk" - worn by successful and powerful women for Board meetings and International conferences teamed with lustrous pearls or priceless platinum.
I am sure women with healthy saree wardrobes already have many of this versatile pieces (I own 4 of them). Even today these sarees can be got for a price of 1500-3500 Indian rupees
pssst....it also makes you look slimmer that what you are...
So here is my toast to printed pure raw silk...
Being from Mumbai we knew only of two silk saree shops of Madras - Nalli Silks and Rasi Silks. So when Rasi Silks held an exhibition at the Fine Arts Center of Mumbai, my mother and me were really excited. In 1990s, when the only silk sarees in vogue were Kanchipuram and Dharmavaram (for the South Indians, of course) - pure raw silk was something totally unheard of. We even refused to believe that it was silk. And to pay a kings ransom of 1200 rupees for something which was not even an "Arani pattu" was sacrilege for my mother. But me being the rebellious teen had to have my way. And there - I was a proud owner of a green and pink printed raw silk saree.
Little did I know that this piece of uniqueness would go on to be a rage !! Today some 20 years later, this is the most basic of silk sarees. Somewhere along the line, this was the design for Air India's Air hostess's too. In fact it is also called the "Corporate Silk" - worn by successful and powerful women for Board meetings and International conferences teamed with lustrous pearls or priceless platinum.
I am sure women with healthy saree wardrobes already have many of this versatile pieces (I own 4 of them). Even today these sarees can be got for a price of 1500-3500 Indian rupees
pssst....it also makes you look slimmer that what you are...
So here is my toast to printed pure raw silk...
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