#100SAREEPACT

Have you ever tried wearing a sari? It’s a little more elaborate than a typical American outfit (shirt and jeans or a simple dress, for example). First, the blouse is worn (blouses vary in styles and embellishments). Then a floor-length petticoat is tied at the waist, while the upper part of the sari is tucked into the petticoat and wrapped around the body. The rest is draped over the left shoulder, often fastened with a safety pin to prevent it from falling off. While a bit challenging for beginners to learn, mastering the process of dressing in a sari brings a lot of elegance and pride to the women that wear them.

Michelle wore a sari on an early trip to India

You don’t have to tell this to Ally Matthan and Anju Muadgal Kadam, though. Their new project, #100sareepact, was sparked by their love of saris and their desire to wear one regularly. To them, saris are elegant, ancestral, and individualistic pieces of clothing that should be celebrated and worn regularly rather than saved for special, cultural occasions. The boost of confidence from wearing one was all they needed, and #100sareepact was formed– anyone involved in the project will wear their saris 100 times over the next year, documenting their journey on social media, with the hashtag #100sareepact. It’s a project of inspiration, respect for cultural heritage, and community. Beautiful saris needn’t spend their lifetime on a shelf, and Ally and Anju’s project celebrates their magnificence.

Below are pictures men (yes, even men are participating!) and women posted on their experiences with the pact:

(Click the picture to learn more about them!)

(Yep, that’s me!)

Head on over to the #100sareepact site to check out the project!

 And now that you know how to wear a sari, we’ll remind you of how to dry a sari.