Ever wondered who made your clothes?
How do they look? What do they love?
This year, as part of Fashion Revolution Week, we decided to showcase our products in a new way- with the very people who make them, wearing them. This new type of photoshoot was inspired by Fashion Revolution, a global activism platform working to change Fashion by rewarding the people who make it, and helping the planet.
This year Fashion Revolution Week runs 18- 24 April 2022. and has the theme ‘Money, Fashion, Power’. We turn the power dynamics of the fashion industry on its head and stop distancing the makers of our products from their customers.
Instead, we give our artisans the opportunity to step out from behind the scenes and take centre stage in the story of I was a Sari. To have them form a bond between the creator and the customer- a love story of sorts.
We wanted our artisans and production team to wear the products they had actually made with their own hands. And to wear them in the way that they naturally would. So rather than style them as a fashion shoot, we asked them to wear I was a Sari products together with clothes from their own wardrobes.
This showcases their individual style so their personalities could shine through. This empowers them to wear the contemporary fashion pieces they have been crafting along with their own traditional Indian clothing – saris, kurtas, anarkali suits, and more. I was a Sari meets I am a Sari.
Meet The People Who Made Your Clothes
Abdul Jabbar Sheikh
Men’s PJ set with long sleeves: I was a Sari
Kurta: Artisan’s personal wardrobe
Age: 57 years
Lives: Titwala
Role at IWAS : Kaaj button, fusing, product quality check
About him: Abdul says that he as a person is content with who he is and his achievements; and also loves watching movies in his free time.
Ankita Amit Pawar
Kimono: I was a Sari
Sari: Artisan’s personal wardrobe
Age: 24 years
Lives: Wadala
Role at IWAS: Quality check and sari cutting
About her: Ankita says that she’s an introvert but loves to cook in order to express herself.
Priya Deepak Jamdhade
PJ set: I was a Sari
Pleated earrings, Double beaded choker (as belt) and Embroidered strap sandal: I was a Sari
Sari: Artisan’s personal wardrobe
Age: 27 years
Lives: Wadala
Role at IWAS: Quality check and sari cutting
About her: Priya loves to spend time with her kids and is striving to learn and grow with every opportunity that she gets.
Vanita Manohar Ukde
Bomber: I was a Sari
Double beaded chokers: I was a Sari
Sari: Artisan’s personal wardrobe
Age: 48 years
Lives: Jogeshwari
Role at I was a Sari: Garment stitching
About her: Vanita enjoys great cinema in her leisure time and also motivates her daughter to follow her passion.
Satish P. T.
Korean collar waistcoat: I was a Sari
Short kurta and trouser: Artisan’s personal wardrobe
Age: 50 years
Lives: Chembur
Role at I was a Sari: Production, logistics, product training & development
About him: Satish describes himself as a responsible person but also lets loose when he goes on his travel excursions.
Samiksha Suyog Pedhe
Shirt: I was a Sari
Clutch and Double beaded choker: I was a Sari
Sari: Artisan’s personal wardrobe
Age: 41yrs
Lives: Jogeshwari
Role at I was a Sari: Garment stitching and embroidery
Loves: to stitch and watch serialsDescribes herself as: Found a new friend in my daughter
About her: Samiksha opened her heart to her daughter and found her first best friend, as she says. She loves stitching and watching series in her free time.
Mallika Sheikh Rabbani
Sunset coat: I was a Sari
Anarkali suit: Artisan’s personal wardrobe
Age: 38yrs
Describes herself as: focused on her children’s welfare, does everything for them
Lives in: Andheri
Role at I was a Sari: Garment stitching
About her: Mallika does everything for her children’s welfare and in her spare time she likes to have a good time with her friends.
Kiran Rajbhar
Strap Dress: I was a Sari
Long beaded necklaces: I was a Sari
Denim pant – Artisan’s personal wardrobe
Age: 21 yrs
Lives in: Andheri
Role at I was a Sari: Quality check and sari cutting
About her: Kiran believes in living life to the fullest and dancing makes her the happiest.
This year we #choosetochallenge the system by reversing the power dynamic by outing the makers of our clothing.
To reflect upon the current state of the fashion industry and its impact on the lives of the people who make them, we have to rethink the fashion revolution not just for one week, but as a way of life, for both the makers and customers.
