A new book looks at how Gen Z is adapting to, and modernising, the sari for everyday wear

I understand one of the reasons why young working women prefer other forms of attire to the sari – it takes time and effort to drape a sari right. Nevertheless, there are ways around this problem. Mothers in the 1990s got tailors to pre-stitch the pleats of a sari, so that their young ladies could zip it up and throw the pallu over their shoulder. Voila! The young girls were ready for Diwali, temple or puja functions, or graduation and dance recitals. Gen Z relies on these instant, pre-draped saris that I continue to supply to my daughters and now to my granddaughter.

As a staunch sari-believer who, however occasionally, migrates into jeans, salwar–kameez, skirt and blouse, and lehengas herself as the spirit moves and occasion demands, I understand this dress promiscuity, but always keep hoping that the fundamental fidelity to the sari is not lost to Gen Z. I have sought to gauge the views of Gen Z on the sari through interviews, social media impressions, and personal interaction. There is no doubt that Gen Z in India – both women as wearers and most men as observers, is romanced by the sari but like in the often fleeting relationships...

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