5 Ways I Refurbished My Mom’s Sarees

As a kid, I was always fascinated by my mom’s saree closet, and the older I got, the fonder I grew to the irreplaceable richness of the traditional sarees. I am guilty of asking my mom to convert some of her chanderis into frocks when I was very young, and being a sweet mom, she agreed. I wish I had saved them for later. Many of my memorable junior college outfits (we had a adhere to an Indian attire dress code!) were infact converted from sarees. My proudest convert and an ambitious project was 9 years ago, of my mom’s wedding saree! I was still in college and poured all my savings into it to leave no stone unturned to refurbish it. You can read all the anecdotal details of that most special ensemble below.

The exclusivity of the fabric and the intricacy of the designs of these old sarees makes for unique investment pieces of our wardrobes. Let’s up our recycling and upcycling game to another level. And here are 5 different outfits from my mom’s sarees:

1. PALAZZO-CROP TOP SET

Flowy sarees like georgette, crepe, or chiffon with abstract or floral prints can be easily converted into something of a modern ensemble. These indo-western palazzo pants with long length jacket gives a fresh twist to the saree and also the wearer. Pair it with oxidized jewelry and block heels to your desi party, shake a leg, play games, and represent modern India!

2. STRAIGHT CUT KURTA AND PANTS SET

Stiffer fabrics like Organza, Chanderi, heavy Chikankari, or Brocade clad silks can be used to create straight-cut kurtas for a structured yet body-contouring silhouette. Pair it with palazzo, sharara, or cigarette pants, and you are good to slay any intimate traditional gatherings without being overdressed.

This sage green organza silk saree with brocade details was gifted to my mom by her best friend. I fell in love with the sheerness of the fabric and the dreaminess of sage-green paired with pearl-colored Brocade. I like to wear it with a muted gold cigarette pants from another tailored-dress and a net dupatta from an old Anarkali set. To enhance it a little further, I asked my tailor to add pearl buttons on the kurta bodice and silver-gold tassels on the dupatta. I got this one stitched just before I came to the States in 2016 as I wanted something traditional to take with me.

3. KALIDAR OR ANARKALI: Fabrics like Paithani silk, soft silks, Bandhani tie and dye)silk can be converted into Anarkali or A-line kurtas. This simple yet super-rich combo is ideal for small occasions like home poojas. Pair it with raw cotton silk palazzos or tulip pants. Skip dupatta and go heavy on earrings to complete the look.
My mom’s paithani, gifted by her brother 15 years ago, was on my radar for so long. The color and drape of the paithani reminds one of the rich heritage of Indian textiles. I wore this saree (when it was a saree) to my 10^th-grade farewell party.

Go be your version of Meenakumari from Pakeejah or Anarkali from Mughal-e-azam!

4. LEHENGA: My favorite part of the post and an inspiration to the whole post itself is the lehenga stitched from my mom’s wedding saree- Shalu. Shalu silk is one unique variant of silk saree, often the first choice of Maharashtrian brides. It is a royal amalgamation of two very famous fabrics- Paithani and Banarasi silks with heavily embellished jari motifs.
I had my eye on this saree for ages. I thought I would convert this saree into a fish cut lehenga when I was about 13 years old, but that never happened (fortunately! Phew!). Suddenly, during my engineering days in Pune, I remembered this saree and called up my mom. She had given this lovely saree to my aunt, who was planning on giving it to the house help! I went home, and we searched for the saree (until my mom remembered it was at my aunt’s place!). I called my aunt, and she had cleaned her closet to discard some clothes with this saree. My aunt and my mom thought who likes a 20-years-old saree, and that I was wasting my energy! I found a local designer boutique in Pune, got the saree polished, got the net dyed, and added a net layer to subdue the fact that the saree was, in fact, OLD. The choli had half sleeves before for that old-school vibe, that had to be removed later.

5. KURTA AND SKIRT SET: Any foil printed, hand-blocked or gota work sarees will form a stunning outfit when converted into kurta- skirt combo or kurta-sharara combo. This look effortlessly adds gait and elegance to every step you take. Ask your tailor to add pockets to the kurta and keep the skirt flare low to give it a more street style look. Finish it up with retro sunglasses and low heels.

Start your scout now, rummaging into your own or, even better, your mom’s closet. Who knows, you may find your next gem in there? This upcoming year, let’s all save on some carbon footprint, get our bonds tightened and our roots deepened. Refurbishing is one way to sustainable lifestyle choices, and what’s better ‘slow fashion’ than this?

With Love,

Srushti Khade