What is there to see?

The saris in the expo come from renowned brands from the Indian and international fashion world. For example, you can see a sari by fashion house Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, worn by actress Deepika Padukone at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. And a sari by Indian fashion house Tarun Tahiliani, worn by Lady Gaga in 2011 during her debut show in India. Also on display is a stylish minimalist sari by renowned fashion designer Sabyasachi, and a pink sari by designer Jan Taminiau, worn by Queen Máxima for a state visit to India.

Since India's independence, the sari has reflected shifting national identities. The garment remains an important form of cultural expression for people from India and the Indian diaspora. In the expo, for example, you can see a red sari by singer-songwriter Priya Ragu, which she combined with streetwear accessories in her music video "Good Love 2.0. She celebrates her Tamil-Swiss heritage as "a mix of everything": of Western and South Asian culture.

Exclusively for Wereldmuseums' version of the sari exhibition, design duo LOBOMAR presents the latest collection of their sari-inspired streetwear. Paying homage to their Indian grandmother and love of wearing saris, LOBOMAR plays with different drapes, materials and even headwear to create new, contemporary sari styles that honour their heritage.

Contemporary makers are also fully experimenting with new and upcycled materials. For example, you can see a saree devised with sequins made from X-ray film by designers Abraham & Thakora.

Curious to see what other saris are on display? Book your tickets here.