No. 1 Venukagundaram Drape - Andhra Pradesh, India

This is an agriculturist's drape from the north coastal region of Andhra Pradesh, worn with a tulip opening in front and pleats at the back.

How-to Drape Instructions

1. With right side of sari against body, and inner end in front, double knot at left waist.
2. Pick up lower edge of inner end, and knot at left waist over previous knot.
3. Bring outer end of sari clockwise and tuck in at right waist. Bring rest of sari one full round clockwise. Drape pallu over right shoulder.
4. Make about 6 pleats with remaining portion. Tuck in at center back waist.
5. Bring left end of pallu around left waist, and tuck in at right waist.
6. Drape pallu loosely over both shoulders.

The sari's design is universal and limitless, referenced around the world for its drape, textile and history. It is versatile and adaptable to context, environment and culture, with its making directly tied to the livelihoods of millions of karigars (craftspeople).

Traditionally, it is a single piece of unstitched fabric with variable densities in its parts - with heavier weights allowing for it to drape correctly. Today, its definition includes textiles woven by mill or by hand, often with one density.

Border&Fall’s project is a non-profit cultural documentation of an incredible textile and garment contribution from India, intended to address a perception shift of the sari, which is often seen as staid, traditional and increasingly worn only on formal occasions, particularly in urban India. Each of these films features a drape from a particular region in India, represented through fifteen states. Every drape stays true to its region, whereas the textiles and blouse pairings have been styled to represent a vision of the sari's changing presence.

This project was created by Border&Fall and its team includes Malika Verma Kashyap, Rta Kapur Chishti, Deep Kailey, Rashmi Varma, Sanjay Garg, Sunitha Kumar Emmart, Julia FG Smith, Suniti Rao, Rhea Subramanian, Pallavi Verma, Sharanya Aggarwal, Mehak Kapur Chishti, Carol Humtsoe and TJ Bhanu.