All about the Sri Lankan sari draping style

If you are planning to wear a unique sari then the draped Sri Lankan sari should be a must in your closet. Draped fashion is one of the first techniques of wearing garments in the history of fashion, with sari being one of its kind in South Asian countries. The diversification of social and cultural aspects is mostly seen in the fashion industry infused with unique elements. One such unique style of wearing saris is from our neighbouring country, Sri Lanka.

Mostly found in all South Asian women’s wardrobes, saris hold a sentimental value and are passed down from grandmothers to their daughters and grandchildren. The six yards of elegance represent the culture and ancient tradition with every region holding their signature saris with which one could identify their culture. Our neighbouring country Sri Lanka is known for its rich cultural heritage and warmth. But, today let’s introduce you to Sri Lanka’s popular sari, the Kandyan.

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The Kandyan sari is mostly worn at wedding functions and auspicious occasions in Sri Lanka, and is still worn as an everyday garment in the town of Kandy in Sri Lanka with pride and poise. Cultural appropriation in the form of fashion is something which always varies from person to person and evolution takes place over the years with people experimenting with something new and modern. Respecting the culture and doing something new, the new form of wearing Kandyan saris has won hearts across the internet bringing back this top-notch fashion.

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The modern Kandyan sari is easy to wear and gives a comfortable touch. You need to wear a mermaid-shaped long skirt with a body-hugging sari shaper underneath with a matching blouse with a dupatta taking the shape of the pallu with a frill cut or design on the top of the skirt which makes the body look elongated and stylish.

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The Kandyan sari’s waistline frill design looks more like a wraparound micro mini skirt present over the sari. The whole sari is deconstructed into four parts, mainly the upper jacket or blouse, with the shoulder drapes known as Pota, the wraparound skirt i.e. called Neriya, and the pallu or the dupatta which is taken from the front. Adding all the pieces together, the sari thus stands to be an easy-to-wear garment with almost no practice needed to drape the details around the body.

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The traditional sari was worn by the high society in the early Sri Lankan kingdom consisting of a jacket that completely covered the chest, back, midriff, and a cloth that covered almost half of the lower part of the woman. The jacket mainly had puffed sleeves with a round neckline, with the fall of the sari thrown over the shoulder, and paired with stunning jewellery sets. In old Tamil communities, the drape usually reflected the social status of the woman.

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