A first
glance / Themes
/ Families of saris / Lectures
This exhibition could not have happened without the
work, help, dedication of:
We are all gathered at Prof. Joanne B. Eicher's house
after the opening.
In the fashion section of the exhibit, from left to
right:
Chantal Boulanger
(guest curator), Jean Ross (exhibition designer), Susheela Hoefer
and Hazel Lutz (co-curators)
Chantal Boulanger, a scholar from France, has traveled extensively throughout India during the last six years documenting styles of sari and dhoti draping. Through photographing and interviewing women, she has been able to collect both contemporary and now seldom worn historical styles, as well as both publicly and privately worn sari drapes.
Once a new drape was found, Chantal
wore it through her daily activities in order to learn the more
subtle intricacies of the style. As the body moves, the sari moves,
putting stress on the wrapping and tying of cloth. Without knowledge
of the small details in forming the drape, the sari might ride
up and reveal too much of the body, or the drape might lose its
shape and style.
