Trends keep changing with the times. Giving the traditional sari a completely new, contemporary look, designers are now stitching it up with a zipper for a quicker drape.
Designer Lalit Dalmia, who recently launched his range of zipper saris, says, “‘The sari is considered the traditional dress of Indian women but with passing generations the style of draping the sari has changed. Ready-to-wear designer saris have become the latest fashion statement and people are finding it an easier option to the regular saris. There is no fear of the pleats coming off, unlike the regular sari. The zipper saris are a craze amongst youngsters as they can easily slip into it and zip it up like denims.”
The designer ensures he doesn’t lose out on the traditional aspect of a sari while making it a comfort-wear for young brides.
“I experiment with the central themes of femininity and romanticism, Mughal and Victorian era, creating clothing that is cut to the curve with soft edging and exquisite detailing. And we use unusual fabric, texturing and detailing, fusion of styles patch-worked with embellishments in a vibrant eclectic colour palette.”
According to designer Nida Mahmood, the zipper can be an element of design in the sari or just be a functional addition to make it easy to wear.
“The choice can be left to the designer and the wearer. As a design element, it is best used in a non-conventional manner. Unconventional embroideries and textures go perfectly with the zipper look. More often than not, zippers are just a functional element in bridal saris, which works perfectly. One should keep their waist size in mind while ordering a zipper sari. That is the most important element to be looked into. The drape of the sari must be such that it should cover the zipper side, because if the zipper is exposed, it can look tacky,” says Nida.
But some feel the zipper sari lacks the grace and beauty of a traditional sari. Designer Rohit Mittal says, “Look-wise, zipper saris compromise on look. They are a modern version. The falls and the pleats are different from a regular sari. You can’t do anything about the pleats. You can’t experiment with it much. Once it’s designed, you’ve got to wear it like that. Traditional sari has its own beauty. Zipper saris are for people who want to experiment and don’t know how to drape a sari. When we’re doing a zipper sari, we make sure that it looks like a zipper sari. People love wearing a zipper sari as they want to flaunt a new trend.”