The Life of a Saree

You may call it quintessentially Indian, or recognize it from Mahabharata’s infamous story of how a single piece of unstitched cloth saved the day. You may have witnessed this drape in 100 different forms on 100 different runways season after season or donned one yourself. But there hasn’t been a single moment when a saree wasn’t an absolute masterpiece! Deserving of the designated spot it holds in the spotlight, the saree has been around the world and back again through the ages. Here, we briefly trace the life of a saree right from its inception, to the significant moments in its ongoing and seemingly endless tenure as a timeless wardrobe essential.

So, who wore the first saree? When it comes to matters of the past, there are questions that no one may really have a surefire answer to. This is one of them. While we don’t know who wore the first saree, we do know that it is over 5000 years old and probably one of the only surviving clothing items in history. This makes the saree an important subject for not just the fashion industry, but also for curiosity-driven historians.

Even though the word ‘saree’ comes from Sanskrit and literally means ‘strip of cloth’, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the origin of the silhouette is rooted in Hinduism. Stepping aside from religious references, did you know that the saree has been influenced by a lot of other ancient cultures too? Ancient Greek women wore chitons which were pleated and draped over one shoulder, and the loose fabric touched their ankles. At this time, the idea of a blouse wasn’t prevalent. Inspiration can also be traced back to ancient Egyptian clothing, where elaborate draping with luxe fabrics wasn’t an uncommon sight. Largely affected by orthodox beliefs, clothing and culture, saree is the final product of years of evolution even though it may not seem like it to many.