Cotton weaving has a long and rich history in Bengal. The region is known for tant, jamdani, and handloom cotton saris that have been woven for centuries. These saris have always been more than simply practical, ; they are embellished with geometric and floral patterns, showing artistry even in daily wear. Cotton is textile that is at once practical and beautiful, suited for comfort but holding so many aesthetic possibilities.
The sari here is draped in the Nivi style. This form of draping began in Andhra Pradesh. It grew popular across India because it was simple, graceful, and free. The pallu falls behind the shoulder, leaving the body unburdened. It is the drape most commonly seen in the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, and gained nationwide popularity through Indian cinema. It became a drape for daily life but also for moments of ceremony; in fact it is the standard drape for women in the Indian Army, police, and national airline. Over time it came to be the most common sari style for women across the country.
“The Nivi drape is an everyday drape for many women. We have grown up watching Sharmila Tagore listening to the radio and other Bollywood actresses engaging in leisure in the Nivi drape. Thus, when it came to this comfortable cotton sari and the shoot for LaWhore reading in bed, Nivi it was!” – Nikaytaa
In this look, the Sooti sari carries many layers of memory. It speaks of the comfort of cotton. It recalls the quiet image of cinema, where actresses appeared in soft cottons while engaging in moments of leisure. It also carries heritage through handloom Bengal textiles and the widespread history of the Nivi drape. The sari becomes a silhouette of ease and beauty. It joins comfort, tradition, and style in effortless balance.
Did you know that sooti means cotton in Hindi and several Indian languages.Cotton has been woven in the subcontinent for over four thousand years. In Bollywood films of the 1960s and 70s, the cotton sari in Nivi drape often stood for leisure, simplicity, and quiet charm. LaWhore is seen here, leisurely reading in bed her own book “Decolonize Drag.”
Sari: Raw Mango