Arpita Mehta pens down a piece revealing all about her famous ruffle saree and its growing popularity

Saris have always commanded an indispensable place in the traditional Indian wardrobe. My early memories of my grandmother wearing her floral chiffon or zari work Benarasi sari have been imprinted on my mind since childhood. I have always been fond of this silhouette as it enhances every body type. In the years since, the conventional six-yard has undergone a makeover and has never been more versatile than it is now. 

With the fashion landscape changing, Indian designers are giving saris the ultimate revamp by playing with the different textures, silhouettes, fabrics and styles. People are willing to experiment with their outfits, thus aiding designers to explore new innovations and push the boundaries further. The Indian sari has been modernised in multiple ways, from pre-draped to ruffle saris as well as the addition of certain accoutrements such as belts, capes and jackets. The blouses have been playing host to innovative cuts and silhouettes as well. The one trend that has stood out from the crowd and made an impact across all age groups is the ruffle sari. They work like a dream and accentuate the curves in a very subtle manner. It serves as a fuss-free option for the modern hustlers and on-the-go women of today who want to keep the traditional touch by wearing a sari, but also needs a smart alternative to carry it in a contemporary style.

Since its inception in 2009, my label’s aesthetic and ideology has been minimalistic yet fashionable. The seamless blend of ethnic and contemporary designs serves to enhance the feminine silhouette. My collections are today characterised by my signature embroidery mirror work, served in trendy cuts and eclectic colour combinations, along with the ruffle sari which has been an absolute hit!

Down the years, the sari has witnessed many interpretations, and the Arpita Mehta ‘ruffle sari’ has earned a spot in the hearts of women since it was launched in the ‘Enchanted Forest’ collection in spring/summer 2018. The ruffle saris were introduced in two solid colours and two prints initially, and have since found a fan in A-listers and everyday women alike. My favourite part of these saris is how well they fit women of diverse body types and how they serve well for every occasion, from a cocktail party to a ceremonial mehandi function to sangeets and receptions. Our ‘Le Fleur’ collection saw us embracing modernity by bringing in the striped print in three colour variations, which caught the eye of millennials looking to flaunt the traditional six yards in a contemporary manner. Today, our ruffle saris epitomise the essence of young, flirty and sexy.

The ruffle saris were seen with a twist in our ‘Folklore’ collection and were then upgraded to another level during our Lakme Fashion Week W/F 2019 showcase, ‘Trentradition’. The most loved addition was the belt that escalated the glam quotient of the silhouette. The belts came in two variations: one with ruffles and another with embroidery, making it the perfect candidate for the festive season. Our ruffle saris have won the favour of celebrities like Shilpa Shetty, Sonakshi Sinha and Kriti Sanon, to name a few. Today,  it serves as a matter of great pride that my creations have found a spot in the wardrobes of the best-dressed names in the biz, including Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Jacqueline Fernandez, Kiara Advani as well as next-gen stars, like Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria.

-Arpita Mehta