IPOH, Nov 6 — The sari remains a popular choice among those preparing to celebrate Deepavali, with many opting for the traditional attire to mark the festive occasion.

The traditional garment symbolises elegance, cultural identity and customs passed down through generations.

Despite its timeless appeal, draping a six-metre-long sari can be challenging for those unfamiliar with the technique, particularly on Deepavali morning, as the process can take between 20 minutes and an hour.

To simplify the process, fashion designer and tailor S.C. Kavitha has introduced ready-made and pre-pleated saris, offering a convenient alternative for those unfamiliar with traditional draping techniques.

Kavitha said ready-made and pre-pleated saris started gaining popularity about five years ago, with demand for the garments rising ahead of Deepavali each year.

“Teenagers often find wearing a sari difficult because they need help putting it on and getting the pleats right. It can take up to an hour, so many prefer simpler outfits like anarkalis, kurtis or modern dresses.

“With ready-made and pre-pleated saris now available, more young people are interested in wearing them,” said Kavitha, who has been in the business since 2008, when met at her shop recently.

She explained that the pre-pleating process involves measuring the sari, arranging it into neat pleats to fit the wearer, steam-pressing the fabric and securing the folds with safety pins.

Kavitha said the wearer can simply slip on the pre-pleated sari, wrap it around her body and be ready in about five minutes without needing any assistance.

Ready-made saris, meanwhile, are even easier to wear, as they come with a buckle or hooks at the waist, much like a regular kain sarung, she added.

“The wearer only needs to fasten the hooks and drape the pallu (the loose end of the sari) over her shoulder, all in less than a minute.

“This takes the stress out of getting ready, especially when welcoming guests or heading to the temple,” she said.

Kavitha said ready-made and pre-pleated saris have also become popular among Malays and Chinese, who are drawn to the traditional attire for weddings, workplace cultural events and school celebrations.

“I get many orders from Malays and Chinese who want to wear saris to their Indian friends’ weddings, multicultural events or school functions. It’s nice to see people from different backgrounds celebrating our diverse cultures,” she said.

Kavitha said she charges RM30 to RM40 for pre-pleating a sari, depending on the type of fabric, while the tailoring fee for a ready-to-wear sari is RM85 to RM90 per set.

Keen to share her skills, Kavitha, who is also a professional make-up artist, conducts sari-draping classes, offering one-day intensive courses and two-day workshops.

She said mastering sari draping takes time and cannot be achieved in less than six hours, as the technique requires plenty of hands-on practice.

“I want my students to learn the technique properly and remember what they have been taught so they can one day pass on their skills to others,” she said. — Bernama