A motley of vibrant colours

JustDrape’, located at 31st A Cross, Chennamma Chowtry Road, Sanjay Nagar, is a home-based shop run by Rajitha Dsilva. She uses a lot of chiffon, cotton and net in her work, and pays special attention to the pallus and weaves.

However, while the saris could be termed ‘traditional’, there is a certain fun, contemporary element to them, making them instantly catch one’s attention. “In a wedding that I attended, I saw someone wearing the same sari as I was. I wasn’t very happy about it, especially after paying so much money. That’s when I figured I wanted to start my own sari range,” informs Rajitha, who pursued her education in fashion and apparel designing at KLE College. She points out that her colours aren’t very dull but she avoids bling as much as possible. “It’s mostly for youngsters and for adults who are young at heart. I don’t like very glamourous clothes because I feel those are meant to be worn on runways in fashion shows. I like things to be fashionable and wearable,” she says.

An important thing one can notice in her saris and blouses is that they are in keeping with the trends of the time.

Rajitha elaborates, “I stick to the season’s colours very strictly. For instance, all my saris right now have colours associated with spring-summer collections. Even with the blouses, I give my customers the blouse material but usually tell them how they should make it. I know that, for instance, the elbow sleeve blouse is in fashion and puff sleeves are coming back. So I try and incorporate these into my designs.” Ask the young designer why she chose saris as her speciality and she replies, “Honestly speaking, I see a lot of teachers and businesswomen who wear beautiful saris on a daily basis. When I see them, I get inspired because I don’t expect such people to carry the garment off so well. It just makes me want to make more sari, which I feel is one of the most beautiful part of Indian tradition.” She adds that the colour combinations, patterns and ideas for what matches what come on their own. “I don’t flip through magazines or copy designs from the Internet. Fashion is a cycle and I’ve learnt to analyse it over time. I just get strong feelings about what will be in fashion and after a few months, I find that it’s actually all over the place. My husband keeps telling me to do forecasting,” laughs Rajitha, who loves mixing different colours together in a sari. Though she doesn’t sell accessories, she maintains that they are needed to accentuate the beauty of the sari.

“You need to accessorise according to the occasion. But the basic rule is to not wear more than two accessories.

Over-accessorising takes something away from the sari,” she says. For details, call 9986503084.

Monica Desai, III year, BSc, Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, chose a chiffon sari which had a Benarasi border and hand-sown pearls and teamed it with a matching blouse.

Punchline: “It’s a very elegant look and I feel graceful wearing it. I’m surprised that it suits me so well, considering I don’t usually wear dull colours.”

Price: Sari (Rs 2,800)

Sharon Alfred, III year, BA, Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, wore a yellow organza sari with self-woven stripes and checks with a sleeveless orange blouse.

Punchline: “I was apprehensive about the colours in the beginning but it looks really good on me. This sari gives a fun look but can also be made ethnic with the proper
accessories.”

Price: Sari (Rs 1,800)

Meghana Belavadi, III year, BCom, Seshadripuram Institute of Commerce and Management, opted for a green and pink lightweight cotton sari with a
puff-sleeved blouse.

Punchline: “I like the pattern and the colour combination, which is both traditional and modern. The sari gives me a very elegant look and depicts Indian culture and heritage well.”

Price: Sari (Rs 3,000)

Anisha Jain, III year, BA, Christ University, picked up a red and green net sari with brocade pleats and paisley motifs.

Punchline: “I feel like a pretty bride. The sari is lighter than I thought it would be and drapes easily. It’s very comfortable and can be worn at weddings, functions or even puja.”

Price: Sari (Rs 3,500)

Anusha Shenoy, III year, BCom, Seshadripuram Institute of Commerce and Management, went for a red and yellow half-and-half jacquard weave sari and blouse.

Punchline: “The look is traditional and the combination of red and yellow is gorgeous. It is easy to carry and feels very comfortable on the body. I could walk around
in it all day.”

Price: Sari (Rs 2,000)

Sushma BV, III year, BCom, Seshadripuram Institute of Commerce and Management, chose a Monaco blue cotton sari with checks woven into it. She paired it with a honey-yellow blouse.

Punchline: “I love the colour and the fabric. I love wearing saris and would wear this to family functions or even to college. What I like best is that you don’t need to accessorise it much; it stands for itself.”

Price: Sari (Rs 2,500)