A saree story woven across generations

Celebrating International Saree Day, a special fashion presentation was showcased on Sunday, at the National Crafts Museum, bringing together heritage, dialogue, and design. Woven Whispers A Journey of Craft to Commerce, a textile presentation curated by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), was a tripartner initiative by the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, FICCI FLO, and FDCI.
The evening witnessed a dialogue on handloom and a fashion showcase by leading designers including Abraham & Thakore, Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta, Lahé Looms by Jahnabi Phookan, and Advaya. With discussions centred around saris, their fabrics, and the generational value they carry, the presentation celebrated the timeless relevance of India’s textile heritage.

It’s possible to do modern things with traditional craft’
A highlight of the evening was Abraham & Thakore’s iconic houndstooth sari , now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s permanent archives in London. Speaking about the piece, designer David Abraham shared, “The sari is from the collection of the permanent archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It was from an early collection of ours where we were investigating gender and fashion and how textiles have been gendered. The houndstooth pattern was traditionally men’s suiting fabric, and we explored the relationship between gender and colonisation – the East and the West. We borrowed the pattern from suiting and made it into a sari , something it was never traditionally meant to be. Executed in double ikat with master weaver Govardhan, it became a comment on gender in textiles and fashion. Some women came up to me here and said that it looks so modern. I told them, ‘It’s possible to do modern things with traditional craft.’”

Mallika Nadda, Chairperson, Asia Pacific Advisory Council of the Special Olympics Bharat, who was also the chief guest at the event, wore a kosa sari paired with a Bhujodi shawl. “This kosa sari features Lucknowi chikan and pittan work - it’s rare to see such intricate hand embroidery,” she pointed out.

Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI, added a personal touch, sharing, “I am wearing my daughter Tanira’s hand-painted cashmere handloom scarf.”

Speaking on the value of saris , Poonam Sharma, National President, FICCI FLO, told us, “I am wearing a silk sari with Kashmiri embroidery. I’ve preserved such pieces for 20–30 years, and they are still in fashion. I also have my mother-in-law’s 60-year-old Banarasi sari , revived with a new border. That is the true value of a sari – not monetary, but the value it carries across generations”

Akaaro by Gaurav Gupta presented a new capsule collection where real- zari Banaras brocades were distilled into engineered geometric weaves, paired with signature silk saris featuring the stretch Kinji palla in a winter palette. Contemporary layering with jackets, blazers, and Kinji blouses completed the presentation

Kuwarani Ritu Singh wore a pure pashmina, highlighting artisan continuity. “I work with women weavers - fourth generation artisans from Budgam. This piece is straight off the loom, and I always promote my region and its craftspeople”

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