Bengal has a great tradition of textiles and weaving, and I was happy to see my friend Sutapa Mukherjee in a saree after a long long time on a post here (facebook). It was a coincidence I had picked up a saree she got for me from Kolkata that day and wish she can at least take up a 12 saree a year pact, if not #100SareePact . Except for some government offices, sarees have vanished from our offices mostly. So, it is going to be a lot of hard work to make that attire accepted as "professional" wear. The other coincidence that day was the khun blouse I had matched. I was going for the Press Club function to celebrate a milestone in the life and career of journalist friend Olga Tellis. Half way to the club I thought Olga regularly wears khun blouses. She is highly eclectic in the way she dresses, from chic western wear to very ethnic sarees matched with khun blouses. That day too she was in a red cotton, typical Maharashtrian saree with a khun blouse. This saree has a unique shooting arrows kind of pattern not very visible in this photo.
MS Blue from Rukmini Devi collection
The most precious saree in my collection, classic Kanjivaram korvai with thread work border and no zari. Precious for two reasons, MS blue and a saree remade from Rukmini Devi Arundale's collection. Imitate one can of MS, only to the extent of MS colour and a kempu malai...even that would look a fake on anyone else...one can't explain why certain personalities are so charismatic that draws everyon e not just for their art but them as a person overall. Sometime in 1998 I saw an ad saying Ushas' is having an exhibition of sarees, recreated from Rukmini Devi's collection, naturally tempted landed up there with no money in hand. Saw this saree and love at first sight it was. Usha was so generous, or was it just her marketing skills - you would look as gorgeous as Rukmini Devi in this she said. It might be an exaggeration, but won't dismiss it as Usha said it only to sell the saree. For she had the best of ladies from the art world buying from her...Suhasini, Sh...

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