Nita Ambani’s sari collection is covetable to say the least. The philanthropist uses every opportunity she gets to champion Indian heritage textiles and honour its makers, even bringing their identities to the fore as reverence. As the founder of Swadesh—her retail brand and cultural initiative to shine a spotlight on India’s indigenous arts and handloom—she often wears saris woven by artisans working with the organisation on important occasions. Recently, for a public appearance at an artisans collective at Swadesh’s Mumbai store, Ambani chose a pink and silvered checkered Kanchipuram sari that highlighted age-old rudraksha motifs.
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Handwoven in mulberry silk with zari made of real gold and silver, the sari was handwoven over four months by master artisan Rajesh Sha. Enclosed within each check in the sari are age-old motifs of rudraksha and mayil (peacock), which is typical of a Kanchipuram weave. She paired the sari with a scooped-neck silver zari blouse with an ever-so-slight pink pining on the hem of the sleeves.
Along with her expansive collection of one-of-a-kind textiles, Ambani is also known for her incomparable jewellery collection. With this look, too, she chose a multi-strand necklace from Swadesh, inspired by the jewellery heritage of Rajasthan. She wore pink glass bangles in both her hands and a ring, while diamond-encrusted earrings adorned her ears. Her makeup emulated the sari’s pink colour scheme with matching lips, blushed cheeks and eye makeup that focused on fuller, elongated lashes. Her hair was styled in open waves that cascaded down to her waist.
From the Vogue desk:
“Checks on saris is effortlessly contemporary. Whether woven in silk or cotton, a sari with checks can be worn in many stylish ways. For office-going women or women who want their everyday style to feel impactful and statement, swap your blouse with a shirt, a cropped top or wear a jacket over it for a modern look. I suggest stacking your wrist with a watch and some oversized silver kadas for a bohemian look,” says Ashwini Arun Kumar, Vogue India fashion features editor.
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Nita Ambani’s Ashavali sari celebrates Gujarat’s textile heritage and took five months to hand-weave
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