(Image source from: Facebook/Demure Drapes)

Regardless of nationality and religion, Sari is the most admired Indian attire around the world. Depicting myriad colors and patterns, women from different countries beautifully draped in a sari were brought together on one stage by Ruby Shekhar’s Demure Drapes.

In a bid to encourage women to wear saris for more occasions, Ruby Shekhar first founded Demure Drapes as a Facebook page in 2015 and wanted to share her fondness and lore for a sari. Moreover, she aimed to learn more about the different weaves and handlooms in her sari collections. As the community grew online, she started seeing women from Uganda to South America to Myanmar sending photos of themselves in saris.

Recently, the sari enthusiast organized an event to celebrate Singapore's bicentennial which brought together 200 plus women from 42 countries. “This was a testament to how multicultural our community is, and the fact that the appreciation for the sari truly knows no bounds,” Ruby quoted as saying by Connected to India.

She is currently working on her next project, which is to celebrate Singapore’s history.

“Celebrating SG Bicentennial in saris was on my mind since January. I was able to put it in action with the help of my friends, mainly Aarti and Priya and many who helped spread the word around. It really was a sense of relief and joy when things went as planned on 31st,” Ruby cheerfully added.

Her praiseworthy efforts have seen Demure Drapes grow into a global community with over 10,000 followers around the world in just five years. In addition to a global community, now she has a strong local presence in Singapore among both locals and the expat community.

50 Sari Shades of Singapore was the first event organized by Demure Drapes, which saw a group of Indian women who celebrated Singapore's 50th anniversary in style in 2015. Women were seen taking pictures at 50 iconic locations around the island while wearing the sari.

Another event was Fashion for the Nation which saw 50 gorgeous women, dressed in their resplendent saris, of multiple faith and different races from Singapore. They presented 50 different weaves of saris and modeled 50 unique styles of draping it.

In addition, Demure Drapes every year hosts different programs on World Sari Day (December 1) by engaging ladies from ‘Australia to America’ every part of the world.

By Sowmya Sangam